abstract: Informational needs of gynecologic cancer survivors

Abstract:

Objectives

In preparation for the launch of a gynecologic oncology survivorship program, this study looked at the informational needs of women with gynecologic cancers. Although studies have touched on some of these needs, no published literature has investigated the comprehensive informational needs of gynecologic oncology patients within all sites of gynecologic cancers.

Methods

A needs assessment, consisting of a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted at an ambulatory gynecologic oncology clinic from August 2010 to March 2011. This study investigated the informational needs of patients, including the importance of information, the amount desired, and the preferred mode of delivery. Informational needs were grouped into six domains: medical, practical, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual.

Results

185 surveys were analyzed and the majority of the respondents were Caucasian (77%) and over the age of 50 (66%). Forty-nine percent of respondents were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and there was an even distribution between newly diagnosed patients (38%), those in long-term follow-up (27%), and those with recurrent disease (37%). Overall, respondents placed more importance on receiving medical information (P < 0.01). The three preferred education modalities were; pamphlets, one-on-one discussions with health care professionals and websites. Age, education, and disease site were associated with differing informational needs.

Conclusions

This study has highlighted the most important informational needs of patients with gynecologic malignancies in our patient population. This information may guide the development of clinical survivorship programs and educational resources for patients in the future.

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Highlights

► We report the results of a needs assessment that was done to better understand the informational needs of gynecologic cancer survivors.
► Increasing responsiveness to survivor needs can greatly affect health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
► We did this to launch a gynecologic cancer survivorship program that is responsive to survivor needs.

phase 11 - RO4929097 in Treating Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov (location: PMH Toronto)

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment.

Verified by National Cancer Institute (NCI), August 2010

Purpose

RATIONALE: RO4929097 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects and how well RO4929097 works in treating patients with recurrent and/or metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer.