Multidimensional Informational Needs and Associated Factors Among Indonesian Women with Breast Cancer: A...

Breast cancer remains a major global health burden, with patients in low- and middle-income countries facing substantial gaps in access to adequate health information. In Indonesia, sociocultural barriers and healthcare system constraints further exacerbate unmet informational needs, potentially affecting treatment adherence and quality of life.

This study aimed to examine the multidimensional informational needs and identify associated demographic and clinical factors among Indonesian women with breast cancer.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 breast cancer patients recruited from a referral hospital using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Informational Needs Questionnaire for Breast Cancer Patients (MINQ-BC), covering six domains. Rasch model analysis was applied to ensure measurement robustness, and inferential analyses (Chi-square tests with Cramér's V as the measure of association) were performed to identify associated factors.

Overall, 77.1% of participants reported high informational needs. The highest needs were observed in follow-up and long-term care (81.9%), whereas lifestyle and self-care needs were predominantly low (81.9%). Educational background was significantly associated with multiple dimensions of information needs, including self-health knowledge, psychosocial and emotional needs, and educational media preferences (p<0.05). In contrast, age at diagnosis was associated with educational media preferences (p<0.05). Regarding clinical factors, frequency and therapy received, BMI and cancer history were significantly associated with total information needs (p<0.05). In addition, several variables were associated with specific dimensions: duration of illness and cancer history with symptom management needs; disease stage with psychosocial and emotional needs; and BMI with self-health knowledge.

Informational needs among Indonesian breast cancer patients are substantial, multidimensional, and shaped by both socioeconomic and clinical factors. The prominence of long-term care needs highlights a critical gap in survivorship education. These findings suggest the need for patient-centered educational strategies that are responsive to patients' clinical characteristics, educational background, and survivorship concerns.