title: Information needs and the related variables of Japanese family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients.
abstract: The present study examined the information needs of family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. Data were obtained by a structured interview from 66 Japanese caregivers of cancer patients institutionalized in a palliative care unit. Needs for disease-related information (the disease, treatment and prognosis) and care-related information (the care for the patient and family members) were investigated, and demographic and situational characteristics related to individual information needs were assessed. More than 60% of family caregivers wanted disease-related information, and approximately half of these wanted patient and family care-related information. These information needs had significant correlations with the family caregiver's age and with such patient-dependent situational variables as time since diagnosis, care site before enrolling in a palliative care unit, and presence or absence of other family caregivers. The results may help health care professionals to better inform terminally ill cancer patients and their family caregivers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Sciences, 7-2-10 Higashi-ogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan. sfukui@post.metro-hs.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sakiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukui
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors