Breast cancer patients' information needs and information-seeking behavior in a developing country.
UNLABELLED
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women both around the world and in Iran. By studying the information needs of patients with breast cancer, the quality of the information provided for them can be improved. This study investigated the information needs of breast cancer patients and their information-seeking behavior.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June, 2015. The research population was 120 women diagnosed with breast cancer and informed about their disease who referred to oncology outpatient clinics at a specialized cancer hospital and a radiotherapy oncology center in Mashhad (the only specialized cancer centers in eastern and northeastern Iran).


RESULTS
Average participant age was 46.2 years (SD = 9.9). Eighty-five percent of patients desired more information about their disease. Results showed that the attending physician (mean = 3.76), television health channel (mean = 3.30), and other patients (mean = 3.06) were the most popular sources of information for breast cancer patients. Patients stated their strongest reasons for using information sources as achieving a better understanding of the disease (mean = 3.59), less anxiety (mean = 3.92), and curiosity to learn more about the disease (mean = 3.66), sequentially. Results further indicated that disease management (mean = 4.18) and nutritional options during treatment (mean = 4.14) were the most often mentioned areas in which patients required information, while knowing the progress rate of their disease was the least (mean = 3.73).


CONCLUSION
It seems necessary to have a good, organized plan to provide breast cancer patients with information and increase their information literacy, one of their undeniable rights.
['Kimiafar|Khalil|K|', 'Sarbaz|Masoumeh|M|', 'Shahid Sales|Soudabeh|S|', 'Esmaeili|Mojtaba|M|', 'Javame Ghazvini|Zohre|Z|']
D000328:Adult D001943:Breast Neoplasms D003142:Communication D054626:Consumer Health Information D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003906:Developing Countries D005260:Female D006801:Humans D057226:Information Seeking Behavior D007492:Iran D008875:Middle Aged D020380:Needs Assessment D009751:Nutritional Requirements D010353:Patient Education as Topic D010817:Physician-Patient Relations D013690:Television D035502:Trust
Breast cancer Information literacy Information seeking behavior