ArticleJRSM short reports2010
How do the information needs of cancer patients differ at different stages of the cancer journey? A cross-sectional survey.
Article in JRSM short reports, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 53 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
53 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Is there evidence for a better health care for cancer patients after a second opinion? A systematic review.Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2016Pooled it
- Predicting cancer prognosis using interactive online tools: a systematic review and implications for cancer care providers.Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2013Pooled it
- Effectiveness of digital care platform CMyLife for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: results of a patient-preference trial.BMC health services research · 2023Trial
- Utility of a Referral Letter to Improve Comprehensibility of Cancer Patients in Palliative Care: a Single-Center Study.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2018Trial
- Impact of fibromyalgia syndrome diagnosis and treatment experiences on health information-seeking behaviour: A cross-sectional online survey.British journal of pain · 2026Article
- Information Seeking Behaviors and Preferences of Cancer Survivors: A Cross-sectional Study in Shanghai, China.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026Article
- Perspectives on Accessing Mental Health Supports for Youth Living With Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms After a Solid Organ Transplant.Pediatric transplantation · 2025Article
- Evaluating a Chatbot as a Companion for Patients With Breast Cancer: Collaborative Pilot Study.JMIR cancer · 2025Article
- Unmet non-medical needs of cancer patients in Poland: a quantitative and qualitative study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Article
- Predictors of information needs among women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant therapy at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Identification of the Needs and Preferences of Patients With Cancer for the Development of a Clinic App: Qualitative Study.JMIR cancer · 2023Article
- Is It Possible to Notice the Unmet Non-Medical Needs among Cancer Patients? Application of the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire in Men with Lung Cancer.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2023Article
- AYAs' online information and eHealth needs: A comparison with healthcare professionals' perceptions.Cancer medicine · 2023Article
- Need for numbers: assessing cancer survivors' needs for personalized and generic statistical information.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2022Article
- Informational needs and predictors of Jordanian breast and colorectal cancer survivors: a national cross-sectional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022Article
- Mapping Information Needs over the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survivorship Trajectory for Esophago-gastric Cancer Patients and Their Main Supporters: a Retrospective Survey.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2022Article
- Exploring the educational needs of patients with systemic vasculitis using the educational needs assessment tool.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2022Article
- Information Received and Usefulness of the Sources of Information to Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre in Malaysia.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2021Article
- Information Needs of Breast Cancer Patients Attending Care at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital: A Descriptive Study.Cancer management and research · 2021Article
- Diagnosed with a common cancer at an unusual age: causal attributions of survivors of adolescent and young adult colorectal cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesProviding information to cancer patients can have significant benefits to their psychological wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and how information needs may differ for patients at different stages of the cancer journey.
designCross-sectional, self-completed survey using convenience sampling.
settingOncology outpatients in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.
participantsCancer patients aged 18 years and over.
main outcome measuresThe survey used Likert scales to determine whether patients wished to know more about 35 items of information categorized under seven domains: cancer (diagnosis); prognosis; treatment; rehabilitation; psychological/spiritual; social/family; and body image/sexuality. Each domain was scored, with higher scores indicating a greater wish for information.
resultsThere were 187 participants (50% response rate). Patients tended to want more information, particularly related to prognosis. Post-treatment patients continued to have information needs comparable to patients undergoing treatment or at the pre-treatment stage, except with reference to treatment-related information (p = <0.01), although as time from diagnosis increased, information needs reduced. Educational attainment, age, treatment status, gender and ethnicity were all significant predictors of scores in various domains.
conclusionThis study indicates that the time since diagnosis may interact with various demographic and disease-related factors in contributing to the information needs of cancer patients. The majority of cancer patients wish to know more about a wide range of factors, and such information seeking preferences are present regardless of an individual's stage following diagnosis.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.