Impact of health information prescription in thyroid cancer

Information prescriptions consist in making specific health care information available to patients on their disease from accredited sources, in order to help them understand and manage their disease, stimulating informed participation in health care. In the literature, a few studies have investigated the real effectiveness of prescribing information on the health management of oncological diseases. The scope of our pilot study was to investigate the effectiveness of information prescription, evaluating both patient satisfaction and perception, but also its possible impact on adherence to follow-up programs.

Prospective pilot study enrolling patients with thyroid cancer. They received informative scientific material on thyroid cancer, dispensed by clinical librarians of the Institute's Library.

101 patients were enrolled (81% were women with a total mean age of 49.39 years). 26% of patients accessed the institute's library receiving patient information materials. Comparing data of people who completed the project with those who did not, no differences in sex, age and tumour characteristics were found. We found no statistical differences in terms of adherence to follow-up visits between the two groups of patients, but health information was able to effectively respond to the requests or needs of most patients. Participating patients have improved awareness and knowledge of their disease, patient-doctor relationships, adherence to treatment and communication with family members regarding their disease status, with a final positive impact on one's psychological well-being and global satisfaction obtained in 65% of people.

This is the first Italian study carried out in the field of oncological endocrinology, demonstrating the positive role health information has on patients' psychological health and thyroid cancer knowledge.