title: Unmet information needs and limited health literacy in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients over the course of cancer treatment.
abstract: To investigate unmet information needs in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients over the course of cancer treatment and its association with health literacy.
  
  
  
  We present results from a prospective, multicenter cohort study (PIAT). Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (N=1060) were surveyed directly after breast cancer surgery, 10 and 40 weeks later. Pooled linear regression modeling was employed analyzing changes in unmet information needs over time and its association with health literacy.
  
  
  
  Unmet information needs on side effects and medication and medical examination results and treatment options were high and increased during the first 10 weeks after breast cancer surgery. Considering health promotion and social issues, unmet information needs started high and decreased during post-treatment. Patients with limited health literacy had higher unmet information needs.
  
  
  
  Our results indicate a mismatch in information provision and breast cancer patients' information needs. Patients with limited health literacy may be at a distinct disadvantage in having their information needs met over the course of breast cancer treatment.
  
  
  
  Strategies are needed to reduce unmet information needs in breast cancer patients considering treatment-phase and health literacy and thereby enable them to better cope with their diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Health Communication and Health Services Research, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: sarah.halbach@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Sarah Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Halbach
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Communication and Health Services Research, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ernstmann
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Society e.V. (DKG), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pfaff
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Timo-Kolja
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Pförtner
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Society e.V. (DKG), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wesselmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enders
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Breast cancer; Health literacy; Longitudinal study; Unmet information needs