A colorectal cancer patient focus group develops an information package

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Patient Care
• Health Communication

Background:

• High-quality information and communication are crucial for empowering cancer patients in decision-making.
• Effective patient support necessitates tailored informational resources.
• The development of an information booklet was initiated to address these needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an information booklet for colorectal cancer patients.
• To identify and incorporate essential patient information needs into a usable format.
• To enhance shared decision-making in cancer care.

Main Methods:

• A group of 22 colorectal cancer patients participated in three meetings.
• Patients defined and prioritized their information needs.
• An information booklet was drafted, reviewed, and modified based on patient feedback.

Main Results:

• Patients identified surgeon-specific morbidity, mortality, survival, and recurrence data as essential information (score = 4).
• Details on adjuvant therapies, surgery type, complications, and recovery were also highly valued (score = 3).
• Anatomical drawings were considered important for understanding.

Conclusions:

• The developed booklet is now utilized to personalize information for colorectal cancer patients.
• It serves as a record of key discussion points during consultations.
• The booklet's efficacy has been assessed through a randomized trial.