The informational needs of newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients who will be receiving combined chemoradiation treatment

Background. Cervical cancer patients experience a range of psychosocial sequelae, secondary to both disease and treatment (1, 2). Prevalence studies estimate that in the first 3 months following a gynecological cancer diagnosis, 47-70% of women experience symptoms of sufficient severity to merit a diagnosis of moderate/severe depression or anxiety (3, 4). Psycho-educational interventions appear to help in this regard (5). Consequently, Princess Margaret Hospital is initiating a psycho-educational group for newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients who will be receiving combined chemoradiation. Purpose. To offer the most effective program possible, this study aimed to define patients' informational preferences. Method. A retrospective needs assessment was conducted, involving women (n = 14) who had completed combined chemoradiation for a new cervical cancer diagnosis in the past 5 years. Patients were interviewed using a new measure based on previous literature (6, 7), which included both open-ended and Likert-type questions spanning a variety of topics. Results. Analyses revealed treatment-retated information to be most important to these women, with practical, emotional/social and sexual issues rated as somewhat less important. Further, the vast majority of patients stated that having the information they wanted when they were preparing for treatment would have reduced anxiety or stress, enhanced quality of life, and improved treatment and side effect management. Thus, the study's results will guide development of the psycho-educational group, employing an evidence-based approach to ameliorate patient care.