Information needs of women during early treatment for breast cancer

Authors:
  • SGSusan Galloway
    Susan Galloway
  • SPSherrol Palmer‐Wickham
    Sherrol Palmer‐Wickham
  • DHDianne Harrison
    Dianne Harrison
  • LBLouanne Rich‐Van der Bij
    Louanne Rich‐Van der Bij
  • PWPamela West
    Pamela West
  • SBStephanie Burlein‐Hall
    Stephanie Burlein‐Hall
  • BDBarbara Evans‐Boy Den
    Barbara Evans‐Boy Den
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Abstract
This study assessed the information needs of 70 women with breast cancer being treated by surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Information needs were measured by the breast cancer version of the Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire (TINQ‐BC). All women had high information needs, irrespective of type of treatment received. They mainly wanted information about their disease, treatments and investigative tests. An examination of individual items on the TINQ‐BC revealed that all women wanted information about recurrence, specifically they wanted to know if the cancer would come back and how to tell if it had recurred. The results provide nurses with some direction as to what information to give women receiving early treatment for breast cancer.

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