Exploring the information flow: partners of women with breast cancer, patients, and healthcare professionals.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the information flow between partners of women with breast cancer and patients and between partners and healthcare professionals (HCPs).


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Community-based.


METHODS
109 partners of women with breast cancer.


METHODS
Subjects completed a 30-item, self-administered questionnaire that was designed to identify the informational flow between them and their information providers. Subjects also completed the Miller Behavioral Style Scale to determine the informational coping styles of individuals under threat.


METHODS
Informational flow between partners and patients and partners and HCPs.


RESULTS
The majority of partners received information from patients and were satisfied with the amount of time they spent discussing breast cancer topics. Few partners thought that patients avoided giving them information. A significant association existed between the informational coping styles of partners and the communication flow between partners and patients. The majority of partners sought information from other sources. In addition, the majority of partners accompanied patients to their medical consultations and received information from HCPs. The communication flow among partners, patients, and HCPs largely depended on the amount of communication desired by the woman with breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides new evidence on the information flow and communication patterns between partners and patients and between partners and HCPs.


CONCLUSIONS
Partners may have informational needs that are not met by patients. Therefore, nurses need to provide them with information to help satisfy their needs. In addition, nurses can help satisfy the informational needs of partners by encouraging good two-way communication and informational exchange between partners and patients.
Rees
C E
CE
Behavioural Sciences Section, University of Nottingham, England. Charlotte.Rees@Nottingham.ac.uk
Bath
P A
PA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D004739:England; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012494:Sampling Studies; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires