Employment status and information needs of patients with breast cancer: a multicentre cross-sectional study of first oncology consultations.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To investigate the early information needs of women with a recent diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) according to their employment status.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Secondary-care patients attending three outpatient oncology clinics in northern Italy.

Participants

377 women with a recent diagnosis of early-stage, non-metastatic BC aged 18-75 were recruited. Of them, 164 were employed, 103 non-employed and 110 retired.

Outcome measures

The first consultation visit with an oncologist was audio-recorded and analysed for the number and type of questions asked. Linear regression models considering consultations' and patients' characteristics as confounding variables were applied.

Results

Employed patients asked significantly more question

SUBMITTER: Mazzi MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7526300 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature