The discordance of information needs between cancer patients and their families in China.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at studying information needs of patients and their families, and their attitude towards the counterparts' information needs. Factors influencing psychological status of patients were investigated.

METHODS

Self-designed questionnaires for information needs and attitude were delivered to participants. Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale were used to evaluate psychological status of patients.

RESULTS

183 eligible pairs of patients and families were involved. Except for the patients' expected life span, most patients and families needed information for all other subscales of disease-related information. Most patients wished families know more information; however, caregivers tended to prevent this. The occurrence of patients' psychiatric disorders was related to their needs for expected life span (OR 3.06 95%CI 1.36-6.93), as well as the attitude of caregivers about whether to provide more information about treatment outcomes (OR 0.24 95% CI 0.10-0.63).

CONCLUSIONS

Information discordance between cancer patients and their families tended to happen when it came to patients' prognostic information. The psychological status of cancer patients was found in association with their information needs and families' attitude towards it.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To guide oncology professionals and cancer patients' families for information provision.