title: [Information needs of patients with prostate cancer. Pronounced differences between individuals after diagnosis of localised prostate carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the context of shared decision-making it is important to know more about information needs of prostate cancer patients. Therefore, this study investigates content and extent of these information needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 330 patients of 4 urological Clinics in Switzerland with a well-established written questionnaire between 3 and 24 months after their diagnosis of an early-stage prostate cancer. A total of 179 patients responded and 128 (39%) questionnaires were entered into final statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients expressed broad information needs and pronounced differences between individuals were observed. Each of the 92 questions presented was rated as "essential" by at least 18% of the patients. On average 50 questions were rated as 'essential'. One patient rated only four questions as 'essential' whereas another participant reported all 92 questions as being 'essential' to him.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerning patient education it is important to identify the individual information needs of each prostate cancer patient separately.
authors: Fachstelle Gesundheitswissenschaften, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Technikumstraße 71, CH-8401, Winterthur, Schweiz. shar@zhaw.ch
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Schaffert
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Rüesch
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gügler
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Fischer
authors: H-P
authors: HP
authors: Schmid
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Spörri
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zurkirchen
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ruszat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland