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Cancer Patients’ Informational Needs: Qualitative Content Analysis

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Abstract

Understanding the informational needs of cancer patients is a requirement to plan any educative care program for them. The aim of this study was to identify Iranian cancer patients’ perceptions of informational needs. The study took a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were held with 25 cancer patients in two teaching hospitals in Iran. Transcripts of the interviews underwent conventional content analysis, and categories were extracted. The results came under two main categories: disease-related informational needs and information needs related to daily life. Disease-related informational needs had two subcategories: obtaining information about the nature of disease and obtaining information about disease prognosis. Information needs related to daily life also had two subcategories: obtaining information about healthy lifestyle and obtaining information about regular activities of daily life. The findings provide deep understanding of cancer patients’ informational needs in Iran.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all the patients in this study who were willing to share their time with us.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

    Haydeh Heidari

  2. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Zafar Str, Vanak Sq, PO Box 1419733171, Tehran, Iran

    Marjan Mardani–Hamooleh

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  1. Haydeh Heidari
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  2. Marjan Mardani–Hamooleh
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Correspondence to Marjan Mardani–Hamooleh.

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Heidari, H., Mardani–Hamooleh, M. Cancer Patients’ Informational Needs: Qualitative Content Analysis. J Canc Educ 31, 715–720 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-015-0887-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-015-0887-z

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