Exploring the information needs of patients with cancer of the rectum.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to adapt an instrument to measure the information needs of patients with cancer of the rectum and determine how these information needs were met, using an adapted form of the Toronto Information Needs Questionnaire.


METHODS
The questionnaire was administered in a semi-structured interview with 40 patients who had undergone surgery and treatment for cancer of the rectum in the previous 18 months.


RESULTS
The instrument used in this study demonstrated content and construct validity. The results of this study indicated that information needs were high in this patient group. Patients felt that many information needs with ratings of a high level of importance were not adequately addressed. A Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test comparing the importance of informational needs with how needs were addressed indicated significant negative Z values for 33.9% (n=18) of the items. Patients differed in the information that they required due to differences in treatment plans, treatment outcomes and preferences as to the type of information required.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for individualised information provision for this patient group, provided in sections that can be read in isolation. This would ensure that patients receive information relevant to their treatment plan and the topics which they have identified as being important to them.
Stoma Care Department, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT47 6SB, UK. gloriaoconnor@yahoo.co.uk
Gloria
G
O'Connor
Vivien
V
Coates
Siobhan
S
O'Neill
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003125:Colostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009660:Northern Ireland; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires