title: 'You can't say, "what about me?" I'm not the one with cancer': information and support needs of relatives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to explore relatives' experiences of talking about cancer within the family and to identify their information and support needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional in-depth interview study with relatives and partners (n = 22) of cancer patients recruited through community settings was conducted. A thematic approach was used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information sharing and communication within families operated within a context of cancer-related uncertainty. Discussion about cancer was generally viewed as beneficial, but relatives faced dilemmas, which inhibited information exchange. Participants often devised strategies to manage the challenges faced to fulfil their needs for information and support. This was deemed important as talking about cancer allowed relatives to support patients' preferences for care, deal with practical demands and come to terms with difficult issues. Lack of information was perceived to affect the quality of care participants could provide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants did not always want to know everything about the patient's illness, suggesting the importance of tailoring information to individual needs. Offering a range of different kinds of support directly to relatives may improve patient care and emotional well-being.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Myall
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Isobel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayers
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brindle
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cotterell
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Addington-Hall
authors.affiliation: School of Health Care Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hopkinson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D030881:Disclosure; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: cancer; information needs; information sharing; oncology; relatives of cancer patients; support