[Patient information in radiooncology Information seeking behaviour and patient characteristics].

Provision of relevant and accurate information is an important factor for patient-satisfaction. This study investigated the self-assessed level of information, information needs and sources of information of patients undergoing radiotherapy in correlation between socio-demographic, medical and psychological variables. A self-ministered questionnaire designed to measure the self-assessed level of information and information needs was distributed to 133 cancer patients before (t(1)) and 14 days after the first medical consultation (t(2)). "Anxiety" and "Social desirability" were assessed at t(1) and four groups of coping methods (repressive, sensitive, anxious, non-defensive/non-anxious) were derived. Sources of information were elicited at t(2). The self-assessed level of information increased, while the demand for information declined. Female patients felt better informed than males. Older patients had a lower self-assessed level of information than younger patients. Among the four groups using different methods of coping, the repressive group wanted the least information. Generally medical consultations were preferred and other sources of information rarely were used. Where there are a large number of older patients with a low educational background, the use of computers is not appropriate at the moment. It can, however, be assumed that the next generation of patients will have a more practical knowledge of computers, and will thus make better use of this method of communication.