title: Unmet Information Needs and Quality of Life in Young Breast Cancer Survivors in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young breast cancer survivors have specific needs related to age. Clarifying the relationships between unmet information needs and quality of life (QOL) in young breast cancer survivors can contribute to constructing a support system to enhance QOL in patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the unmet information needs and examine the relationships between unmet information needs and QOL in young breast cancer survivors in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed an information needs questionnaire containing 26 items, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and a demographic and medical information questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty participants (30.7%) were unsatisfied with "overall communication with medical professionals." The mean scores on all subscales of the WHOQOL-BREF of the participants who were satisfied with "overall communication with medical professionals" were significantly higher than those of the unsatisfied group. "follow-up tests," "treatment for recurrence of breast cancer," "strategies about communication with medical staff," and "nutrition" were significantly related with all subscales in the WHOQOL-BREF. "Secondary menopause caused by hormonal therapy" was significantly related with physical and psychological health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Japanese young breast cancer survivors have unmet information needs, including age-specific issues. These unmet information needs are related to QOL. In particular, "overall communication with medical professionals," which is the most unmet information need, is related to QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncology nurses should teach patients communication skills, provide adequate information, and provide education and emotional support to medical professionals to improve QOL in young breast cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Division of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University (Dr Miyashita); Clinical Cancer Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka (Dr Ohno); Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo (Dr Kataoka); Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka (Dr Tokunaga); Department of Surgery, Breast Oncology, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital (Dr Masuda); Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital (Dr Shien); Department of Nursing School of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Koshigaya (Dr Kawabata); and Cancer Survivorship Research Division, Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, National Cancer Center, Tokyo (Dr Takahashi), Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Norikazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Tadahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shien
authors.forename: Kimiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.forename: Miyako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult