Information Needs and Decision-making Preferences: Comparing Findings for Gynaecological, Breast and Colorectal Cancer

This study examined information needs and decision-making preferences for women with gynaecological cancers (n=53) using structured interviews and compared findings to previous work involving breast and colorectal cancer patients. Measures of information needs (Information Needs Questionnaire) and decision-making preferences (Control Preferences Scale) were administered to women with gynaecological cancers, consistent with measures previously administered to breast (n=150) and colorectal (n=42) cancer patients. Therefore, statistical comparisons could be made across study groups. Priority information needs were similar across the three cancer groups and related to information about likelihood of cure, spread of disease and treatment options. Patients across study groups preferred to share or delegate decision-making to doctors, rather than make decisions themselves. However, patients with gynaecological and colorectal cancers were more likely to have achieved their preferred role in decision-making than women with breast cancer. There were clear similarities in priority information needs across cancer patients groups. However, decision-making preferences need to be established on an individual basis to ensure that patients are involved in the decision-making process to the extent that they prefer. The research instruments used in this study have potential as clinical guides to enable health professionals to make an individual assessment of needs and preferences.