The Information Needs and Preferences of Younger Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

• Author / Creator

  Zimka, Oksana

• The purpose of this study was to determine the unique information provision needs and preferences of younger HNC survivors in the post-treatment phase of recovery. Participants were asked about information considered most important, sources of information used during recovery, sources considered most helpful, and ideal features of an online information resource. Age, sex, years of education, and time since completion of treatment were also correlated with information content considered most important, sources of information used, and sources of information considered most helpful. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that participants either completed on paper and returned by mail or completed online. The questionnaire utilized The Head and Neck Information Needs Questionnaire as well as 24 other items relating to sources of information used during recovery. Of 511 eligible participants, 206 surveys were returned and analyzed. Results indicated that although many information topics regarded as most important remained similar to those of older individuals with HNC, some unique themes, such as detailed information on signs and symptoms of recurrence, chances of being cured, rehabilitation after treatment, treatment and recovery timeframes, and financial assistance emerged as being very important to the people in this study. The internet as a mode of information was identified as a useful source among HNC patients. Finally, a reliable online information resource was regarded as very helpful by the vast majority of participants. The contents of this study could provide the ground work for designing a reliable internet-based information resource for recovering HNC patients.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Head and neck cancer
  • Internet
  • Information needs
  • HPV
  • Oral cancer
  • Sources of information

• Graduation date

  Fall 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Nursing

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R33T9DH7J

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.