Assessment of Information Needs of Patients with Breast Cancer: A Hospital-Based Study in Sri Lanka

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the information needs of breast cancer (BC) patients who presented themselves to the outpatient clinics or wards of the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. METHODS: Information needs were measured using the validated questionnaire in the vernacular (Sri Lankan Information Needs Assessment Questionnaire – BC). RESULTS: All affected women indicated a strong need for information related to the disease, treatment, and psychosocial service while the need for information on procedures for diagnosis and physical care was not strong. Younger women (age ≤37) (P < 0.0001) and women with higher education (P < 0.0001) had significantly higher information needs. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that information needs to be addressed in educational packages require that younger women and those with higher education have specific needs.