Information given to patients about adverse effects of radiotherapy: a survey of patients' views.
OBJECTIVE
In practice, clinicians vary markedly in the amount of information they give to patients before consent for investigation or treatment is obtained. We present a study to evaluate the amount of information patients feel that they should be given.


METHODS
Between October 2001 and February 2002, 82 adults were enrolled into the study before commencing treatment with radiotherapy. Participants were interviewed with the aid of a questionnaire, and responses were analysed to detect differences related to age, sex, disease site, treatment intent and social class.


RESULTS
The distribution of responses to the interview was large. For a mild side-effect, 23 patients (28%) wanted to be informed if the risk of the side-effect was as small as 0.1%, whereas 25 patients (31%) would only want to be informed if there was either a 50% or a 100% chance of it occurring. For severe side-effects, 36 (44%) wanted to be informed of a 0.1% risk, whereas 13 (16%) only wanted to be informed if the risk was either 50% or 100%. There was no association with sex, treatment intent (radical or palliative), social class or disease site. Information requirements tended to be greater in people under 60 years. This reached statistical significance (P = 0.007) for severe side-effects, where younger patients were more likely to want to be informed of a side-effect if there was a 10% or less chance of it occurring.


CONCLUSIONS
Information needs varied widely within our survey population. It is difficult to predict how much information patients feel they need before giving informed consent. Therefore, a patient-centred approach must involve tailoring information to individual patient requirements.
Barnett
G C
GC
Oncology Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. gillbarnett@doctors.org.uk
Charman
S C
SC
Sizer
B
B
Murray
P A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011639:Public Opinion; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D012307:Risk Factors