Information satisfaction in breast and prostate cancer patients: implications for quality of life

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess information needs and levels of information satisfaction in breast and prostate cancer patients. It further examined relationships between information satisfaction and multi-dimensional quality of life (QoL). METHODS: An adapted Information Satisfaction Questionnaire (ISQ, 2004) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy QoL questionnaire (FACT-G, 1993) were randomly distributed to cancer patients during oncology clinic visits (breast cancer, n=102; prostate cancer, n=112). Hierarchal regression analyses examined information satisfaction as a predictor of global QoL and its four dimensions (i.e. physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being). RESULTS: High levels of information needs and desire for decision involvement were identified, with patients expressing a considerable degree of information satisfaction. After controlling for demographic and illness factors, information satisfaction explained 21% of the variance in global QoL, 12% in physical well-being, 13% in social well-being, 8% in emotional well-being, and 10% in functional well-being (all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of information satisfaction for perceived QoL in individuals with cancer. It is clearly important to identify specific information requirements during the diagnosis and treatment process in order to provide information that is congruent with patients' needs.