Cancer centre information and support services and patient needs: participatory action research study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Patient Support Services
• Healthcare Integration

Background:

• Oncology patients and their families require clear information and supportive care to navigate their disease trajectory.
• Information and support centers offer informal and formal non-medical services to meet these needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if the services offered by information and support centers meet visitor needs.
• To assess interest in these centers among oncology patients treated at affiliated hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Participatory action research involving interviews with visitors and hospital-treated patients.
• Data collection across three periods with service adjustments between measurements.
• Evaluation of services at Patient Information Center Oncology (PATIO) and IntermeZZo.

Main Results:

• Interviews with 111 (PATIO) and 123 (IntermeZZo) visitors, and 189 and 149 patients, respectively.
• Visitors cited relaxation, professional advice, and peer support as reasons for visiting.
• 99.1% of visitors reported needs were met; 89.6% of patients viewed centers as integral to treatment.

Conclusions:

• Hospital-affiliated information and support centers are highly valued by cancer patients and their relatives.
• Further research is needed to integrate these centers effectively within the Dutch healthcare system.