title: [Survey of patients' impressions of radiotherapy and their need for additional medical information: Japanese domestic survey of 1,529 patients in 2002].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We clarified the images, impressions, and information about radiotherapy in standard Japanese patients and, at the same time, investigated their need for information about radiotherapy, in order to identify what we, as radiation oncologists, should do to decrease patient anxiety and create good physician-patient relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  We handed out 10 questionnaires to 1529 patients from April 2002 through July 2002 in 22 Japanese institutions that were equipped with radiotherapy machines. Questionnaires contained 10 items asking about patients' background, their impression of radiotherapy, frequency of exposure to information about radiotherapy, need to obtain information about radiotherapy, and ideal additional medical informational resources or their content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 60% of patients had had the opportunity to obtain information about radiotherapy "sometimes" or "often," but 80% of them were not satisfied with the availability of information and answered that it was inadequate. Ten percent responded that they had no idea about radiotherapy. Thirty percent felt unspecified anxiety concerning radiotherapy, and those who had less chance to be exposed to information about radiotherapy felt more anxiety than the others (33.2% vs. 25.2%, p=0.0008). The need for "explanation and information about adverse effects" was the top priority, followed by "explanation of outcome." Although they generally obtained information from their physician (radiation oncologist), they also wanted additional information via written media (662 patients, 43%). However, patients who were over 60 years old most wanted to obtain additional medical information directly from their own radiation oncologist (37.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information about radiotherapy given to patients and the general public is still insufficient in Japan. To fully utilize radiotherapy, which is a very effective treatment option against cancer, and to reduce anxiety about radiotherapy among cancer patients, more information is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Takatsuki General Hospital.
authors.forename: Saeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hishikawa
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soejima
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Yoshinao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hitotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011878:Radiotherapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires