title: Information Needs of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgical Oncology Patients.
abstract: A marked knowledge gap exists concerning the information needs of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgical oncology patients. We investigated the comprehensive information needs of this patient population, including the type and amount of information desired, as well as the preferred method of receiving information. A questionnaire was administered to patients being treated surgically for cancers of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, or bile ducts at Toronto General Hospital, part of the University Health Network, in Toronto, Canada. The questionnaire examined patients' information needs across six domains of information: medical, practical, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. Among 36 respondents, the importance of information and amount of information desired differed significantly by domain (both p < 0.001). This group of patients rated information in the medical and physical domains as most important, though they also desired specific items of information from the emotional, practical, and social domains. Patients' overwhelming preference was to receive information via a one-on-one consultation with a healthcare provider. It is important for healthcare providers working with HPB surgical oncology patients to be comprehensive when providing information related to patients' cancer diagnosis, prognosis, associated symptoms, and side effects of treatment. Certain emotional, practical, and social issues (e.g., fears of cancer recurrence, drug coverage options, relationship changes) should be addressed as well. Face-to-face interactions should be the primary mode of delivering information to patients. Our findings are being used to guide the training of healthcare providers and the development of educational resources specific to HPB surgical oncology patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: Sprott Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.|Present Address: St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St., Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kacikanis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.|Helliwell Medical Education Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyhof-Young
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.|Sprott Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallinger
authors.affiliation: Patient and Family Education Program, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., 9NU-908, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. elke.ruthig@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruthig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D000071077:Surgical Oncology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Hepato-pancreato-biliary; Information needs assessment; Patient education; Surgical oncology