Patient perspectives on the impact of receiving radioactive iodine: implications for practice.

The purpose of this study was to identify the needs of patients undergoing treatment with radioactive iodine (I131). This descriptive study used a standardized survey which was completed by 190 patients selected from eight programs across Canada that deliver I131. One hundred were treated as inpatients and 90 were treated as outpatients. Data from this study indicate there is a variation in patients' perceptions about how precautions are to be implemented during I131 treatment. Patients expressed a desire for more information regarding many aspects of the treatment experience and the medium through which information is provided. There are also implications for support of patients in terms of dealing with psychosocial issues which emerge when living with thyroid disease.