Preferred information sources and needs of cancer patients on disease symptoms and management: a cross-sectional study

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version

Version of Record (VoR)

Author(s)
Mekuria, Abebe Basazn
Erku, Daniel Asfaw
Belachew, Sewunet Admasu
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2016
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed at identifying the information needs of cancer patients, their preferences for the means of receiving health information, and the perceived level of satisfaction of existing possibilities for acquiring cancer-related information in Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional survey was employed on 556 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the oncology wards of Gondar University Referral Hospital and Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The principal information regarded as the most important by the majority of them (67.26%) concerned information on the specific type of cancer (name and stage of cancer), followed by the side effects of chemotherapy and their management (63.29%) and "prognosis (survival)" (51.8%). Doctors were the overwhelming information source about cancer (88.8%), followed by nurses (34%). The majority of respondents (70.3%) were not satisfied at all or satisfied a little, while 15.6% of respondents reported that they were "quite" or "very" satisfied with the existing possibilities for acquiring information regarding cancer. CONCLUSION: Medical practitioners other than doctors and nurses such as clinical pharmacists should support and identify measures that can enhance patients' satisfaction level regarding the existing possibilities for acquiring information regarding cancer. Periodic assessment of cancer patient's information requirements is also crucial, considering the ever-changing dynamics of priorities of such information desires.

Journal Title

Patient Preference and Adherence

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

10

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

© 2016 Mekuria et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).

Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Clinical sciences

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Medicine, General & Internal

General & Internal Medicine

information seeking

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Mekuria, AB; Erku, DA; Belachew, SA, Preferred information sources and needs of cancer patients on disease symptoms and management: a cross-sectional study, Patient Preference and Adherence, 2016, 10, pp. 1991-1997

Collections