Information needs of hematologic cancer survivors

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Background: Little is known about how information needs of cancer survivors/patients (S/P), caregivers (CG), and non-caregiver relatives (NCG) evolve during the cancer experience. Methods: We conducted structured interviews of 21 leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma S/P, 13 CG, and 19 NCG, and asked them to prioritize information needs during the 4 cancer experience phases from a list of 13 topics. This research was supported by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: Information preferences varied (Friedman’s test, P < 0.0001) by phase of the cancer experience. Topics ranked highest (median rank in parentheses) before treatment, during treatment, after treatment, and at relapse, respectively, were diagnostic tests (2), cancer/ cancer types (2.5), treatment options (3.4), hospitals/cancer centers (3.5), and insurance/financial issues (4); coping with treatment side effects (3), insurance/financial issues (4.5), treatment options (5), hospitals/cancer centers (5), and long term side effects (5); long term side effects (2), tests to detect recurrence (2), risk factors (3), diagnostic tests (4), and support groups (5); and tests to detect recurrence (3), insurance/financial issues (3), cancer/cancer types (4), diagnostic tests (5), and treatment options (5). Across the cancer experience, the highest priority topics for S/P, CG, and NCG, were cancer/ cancer types (4), treatment options (4), long term side effects (5), and risk factors (5); diagnostic tests (4.5), coping with side effects of treatment (5), and treatment options (5); and treatment options (3), diagnostic tests (4), and 5 other topics tied for 3rd place (6). In-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with the surveys provided additional detail regarding responses collected in the prioritization exercise. Conclusions: Clinicians can help S/P, CG, and NCG by offering role- and cancer continuum-targeted information.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.