Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41575567›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Exploring the information needs of breast cancer patients and families in a large, urban, academic hospital: perceived barriers and facilitators to finding relevant and credible information.

Mohamed Ugas, Eleni Giannopoulos, Jessica Tan, Tulin D Cil, Jennifer Croke, Robin Forbes, Meredith E Giuliani, Anne Koch, Tina Papadakos, Naa Kwarley Quartey and 3 more

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Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Mohamed UgasCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Eleni GiannopoulosCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Jessica TanCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Tulin D CilDepartment of Surgery, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Jennifer CrokeRadiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, Toronto, Canada.
Robin ForbesDepartment of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Meredith E GiulianiCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Anne KochRadiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN, Toronto, Canada.
Tina PapadakosCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Naa Kwarley QuarteyCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Michelle SnowCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada.
Shelley WestergardAverage and High-Risk Breast Screening Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Janet PapadakosCancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, M5G 2N2, Toronto, Canada. Janet.papadakos@uhn.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of breast cancer patients and caregivers in navigating cancer-related information.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants (13 patients, 3 caregivers), most of whom were female (n = 13), highly educated, and reported strong digital and health literacy. Participants' ages ranged from 36 to 71 (M = 52). The majority were navigating invasive breast cancer, with a smaller number diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. Interviews focused on participants' experiences with information access, evaluation, and use across the cancer journey. Data were analyzed thematically.

resultsDespite high education levels, participants described feeling unprepared and overwhelmed by the amount and complexity of cancer information at diagnosis. Three themes emerged: (1) Tension Between Physician Guidance and Patient Autonomy, highlighting mixed feelings about clinicians' discouragement of independent research; (2) Information Overload and the Need for Timely, Personalized Communication, with a preference for specific guidance over large volumes of information; and (3) Unmet Needs for Tailored, Inclusive, and Accessible Support, as participants, especially male and racialized individuals, struggled to find information and peer support reflecting their identities and experiences.

conclusionFindings reveal persistent information gaps underscoring the emotional and cognitive burdens of breast cancer information seeking.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCaregiversInformation Seeking BehaviorAccess to InformationAdultAgedFemaleHealth LiteracyHospitals, UrbanHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedPatient Education as TopicQualitative ResearchBreast cancerHealth informationInformation seekingNeoplasmPatient educationSelf-care

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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.