Ilja Ormel1, Mona Magalhaes2, Debbie Josephson3, Linda Tracey4, Susan Law5. 1. St. Mary's Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, 3880 Avenue Lacombe, Hayes Pavillon, Suite 4720, Montreal, QC, H3T 1M5, Canada. Electronic address: ilja.ormel.chsm@ssss.gouv.qc.ca. 2. St. Mary's Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, 3880 Avenue Lacombe, Hayes Pavillon, Suite 4720, Montreal, QC, H3T 1M5, Canada. Electronic address: mona.magahaes.chsm@ssss.gouv.qc.ca. 3. St. Mary's Hospital, c/o St. Mary's Hospital, 3830 Avenue Lacombe, Montréal, QC, H3T 1M5, Canada. Electronic address: debbie.josephson1@gmail.com. 4. St. Mary's Hospital, c/o St. Mary's Hospital, 3830 Avenue Lacombe, Montréal, QC, H3T 1M5, Canada. Electronic address: lintracey@sympatico.ca. 5. St. Mary's Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, 3880 Avenue Lacombe, Hayes Pavillon, Suite 4720, Montreal, QC, H3T 1M5, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, 5858 Côte-des-Neiges Rd, Montreal, QC, H3S 1Z1, Canada. Electronic address: susan.law@thp.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore how women describe efforts to seek, appraise and interpret information during the diagnostic phase of her breast cancer care. METHODS: Qualitative interviews with 35 women with breast cancer across Canada, using audio/video recording. Thematic analysis was used to identify topics important to participants (original results published: www.healthexperiences.ca). Secondary analysis of transcripts to identify how women described information flow, content, and management strategies. RESULTS: Women adopt different strategies to optimize access to information, while acknowledging the negative effects of information overload and lack of relevant information. They propose small steps towards gathering and managing information, and to focus initially on understanding their illness. CONCLUSION: Different strategies can help to ensure that women have the right information, in the right format, at the right time. Some of these strategies include developing guidance on how to 'handle' information, helping healthcare professionals identify patient's information preferences, improving the availability, quality and access to experiential information, and facilitating acces to electronic information that can tailor information. Further research to understand how women handle information can inform strategies to help newly-diagnosed patients navigate available information. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare professionals can work in partnership with patients to tailor reliable information to support informed decision-making.
OBJECTIVE: To explore how women describe efforts to seek, appraise and interpret information during the diagnostic phase of her breast cancer care. METHODS: Qualitative interviews with 35 women with breast cancer across Canada, using audio/video recording. Thematic analysis was used to identify topics important to participants (original results published: www.healthexperiences.ca). Secondary analysis of transcripts to identify how women described information flow, content, and management strategies. RESULTS:Women adopt different strategies to optimize access to information, while acknowledging the negative effects of information overload and lack of relevant information. They propose small steps towards gathering and managing information, and to focus initially on understanding their illness. CONCLUSION: Different strategies can help to ensure that women have the right information, in the right format, at the right time. Some of these strategies include developing guidance on how to 'handle' information, helping healthcare professionals identify patient's information preferences, improving the availability, quality and access to experiential information, and facilitating acces to electronic information that can tailor information. Further research to understand how women handle information can inform strategies to help newly-diagnosed patients navigate available information. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare professionals can work in partnership with patients to tailor reliable information to support informed decision-making.
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Illness narratives; Information overload; Lack of information; Online resources; Patient experience; Patient information and communication; Qualitative research; Video-recording
Authors: Laura Ciria-Suarez; Laura Costas; Aida Flix-Valle; Maria Serra-Blasco; Joan C Medina; Cristian Ochoa-Arnedo Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2022-07-30 Impact factor: 6.575