DOI: 10.5176/2251-3140_2.1.26
Authors: Chandrani Isac, Dr. Punitha Ezhilarau, and Dr. Raju Titus Chacko
Abstract:
The search for true information is a distressing and anxious provoking situation for patients diagnosed with cancer.
Health professionals who are in possession of valuable information should learn to disseminate information using professional principles to enhance the coping among cancer patients. The art of communicating health information is a difficult task, but learning to do this unpleasant but necessary task, can go a long way in enhancing the quality of life among cancer patients and in many ways is an enriching experience. The purpose of the study was to review and delineate the informational needs of cancer patients from the perspectives of the cancer patients, their significant others, health professionals (doctors & professional nurses) and members of the community. Design: of the study was descriptive. Data was collected using a structured interviews tool, adapted from the Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire for Breast Cancer (TINQ-BC) and the Informational Needs Assessment Questionnaire for men with prostate cancer. The subscales investigated were disease, investment test, treatment, physical and psychosocial concerns. The sample size was 150 which was distributes as 30 from each category of variables.
Results: The results showed that there were significant differences in the perceptions of variables with regard to the
informational needs of cancer patients. This was further analyzed using chi-square test. A major theme which evolved
across the interaction with cancer patients reflected on communication as a critical element in providing care and
supporting self-care management. The findings enlarge upon patient-centered approaches to health care communication. Based on these core concepts, a set of guidelines which focuses on feelings of team work and self-direction was formulated to disseminate information to cancer patients.
Keywords: cancer patients, informational needs, perspectives, significant others, health professionals, members of the community
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