[Communication with cancer patients in an orthopedic department]

The aim of the study was to examine and to compare the level of information and satisfaction among cancer and shoulder-elbow patients in an orthopaedic ward and the development over time. Thirty-eight consecutive patients under suspicion for cancer and 38 consecutive patients with a benign shoulder-elbow disease were included and matched according to age and gender. Three questionnaires were constructed using closed and open-ended questions about level of information and satisfaction in patients' episodes af care. At admission to the ward the patients had a low level of information and satisfaction. After receiving information on the ward, the patients' level of information and satisfaction in both groups improved and were similarly high. Nevertheless, patients in both groups had a desire to receive more information one month after discharge.