[Evaluation of the Heidelberg cancer information service by the consumer]

The Cancer Information Service (KID) was established 1986 as a model project of the BMJFFG in the German Cancer Research Center. Its task is to provide the general public with quickly accessible information about cancer research, cancer prevention, cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and cancer after-care by phone. Aim of this study was to collect data by a questionnaire given to a sample of 444 callers to describe the characteristics of the callers, their motivation to use the service, the contents of the inquiries and their judgement of effectivity of the work of the service. It was found that nearly 80% of the callers were patients and their relatives, predominantly in the period after the primary treatment. Their questions concerned the field of medical treatment. Their motivation to use the service was not lack of information, but to reinforce the knowledge they already had. The callers fundamentally appreciated the institution of an information service and 62% were satisfied with the actual work of the KID.