The relationship between lung cancer patients' educational level and evaluation of their treatment information needs.
BACKGROUND
Understanding the information needs of lung cancer patients is critical to developing interventions to assist them with treatment decisions. The present study examined how educational level is related to lung cancer patients' perceptions of the importance of having their information needs met and how well those needs were met.


METHODS
Lung cancer patients completed a needs assessment that evaluated treatment information needs, treatment decision satisfaction, coping, and life satisfaction.


RESULTS
Results indicated that education did influence the importance ratings of information needs and influenced coping skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings have implication for how doctors interact with well- and less-educated patients.
Jacobs-Lawson
Joy M
JM
Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KT, USA. jjaco4@uky.edu
Schumacher
Mitzi M
MM
Hughes
Travonia
T
Arnold
Susanne
S
D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires