Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T08:46:32.806Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Investigating and comparing the patients’ and staff's perspectives on the usefulness of a head and neck radiotherapy patient education booklet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2013

Kitty Chan  and
Caroline Davey
Kitty Chan*
Affiliation:
Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Caroline Davey
Affiliation:
Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
*
Correspondence to: Kitty Chan, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Radiation Medicine Program, Cobalt Lounge, Level 2B, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Canada M5G 2M9. Tel: 416 946 4501, ext. 2593. Fax: 416 946 2378. E-mail: kitty.chan@rmp.uhn.on.ca
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

Printed patient education material enhances verbal patient teaching. ‘Starting radiation therapy: helpful tips for patients with head and neck cancer’ is a booklet that facilitates head and neck (H&N) cancer patients’ orientation to the study hospital. This study examined and compared patients’ and staff's opinion on the distribution and usefulness of this booklet.

Methods

Patients starting radiotherapy treatment to their H&N cancer, and staff involved in their care, were recruited. A survey was designed to collect responses from both cohorts.

Results

Of the patients, 94% received the booklet before their first radiotherapy treatment. Of the staff, 67% referred to this booklet during patient education. Most patients (98%) found that the booklet increased their awareness of hospital and community services. Both groups indicated list of services and telephone number to be the most useful chapter. The staff suggested having this booklet available in different languages.

Conclusion

This booklet was useful as an orientation tool for the patients to navigate the hospital system. Patients and staff have similar opinion regarding the most useful sections in the booklet. Further studies needs to be conducted to validate the need of having this booklet available in other languages.

Keywords

head and neck cancerorientation toolpatient education
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , September 2014 , pp. 284 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Houts, P S, Nezu, A M, Nezu, C M, Bucher, J A. The prepared family caregiver: a problem-solving approach to family caregiver education. Patient Educ Couns 1996; 27: 63–73.Google Scholar
2.Ream, E, Richardson, A. The role of information in patients’ adaptation to chemotherapy and radiotherapy: a review of the literature. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 1996; 5: 132–138.Google Scholar
3.Merluzzi, T V, Nairn, R C, Hegde, Ket al. Self-efficacy for coping with cancer: revision of the Cancer Behavior Inventory (version 2.0). Psychooncology 2001; 10: 206–217.Google Scholar
4.Moody, R. Overcoming barriers to delivering information to cancer patients. Br J Nurs 2003; 12: 1281–1287.Google Scholar
5.Cutilli, C C. Do your patients understand? How to write effective healthcare information. Orthop Nurs 2006; 25: 39–48.Google Scholar
6.Llewellyn, C D, McGurk, M, Weinman, J. How satisfied are head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with the information they receive pre-treatment? Results from the satisfaction with cancer information profile (SCIP). Oral Oncol 2006; 42: 726–734.Google Scholar
7.Butow, P, Brindle, E, McConnell, Det al. Information booklets about cancer: factors influencing patient satisfaction and utilization. Patient Educ Couns 1998; 33: 129–141.Google Scholar
8.Rankin, S. Evaluating Patient Education Outcomes. In: Rankin S, Stalling KD, London F, eds. Patient Education in Health and Illness, 5th edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005: 290–310.Google Scholar
9.Dunn, J, Steginga, S K, Rose, Pet al. Evaluating patient education materials about radiation therapy. Patient Educ Couns 2004; 52: 325–332.Google Scholar
10.Cooley, M E, Moriarty, H, Berger, M Set al. Patient literacy and the readability of written cancer educational materials. Oncol Nurs Forum 1995; 22: 1345–1351.Google Scholar
11.Foltz, A, Sullivan, J. Reading level, learning presentation preference, and desire for information among cancer patients. J Cancer Educ 1996; 11: 32–38.Google Scholar
12.Colak, E. An Informational Needs Assessment of H&N Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study. Toronto: Princess Margaret Hospital, 2001.Google Scholar
13.Wizowski, L, Harper, T, Hutchings, T. Writing Health Information for Patients and Families. Hamilton: Hamilton Health Sciences, 2002.Google Scholar
14.Wizowski, L. Tell us what you think! Patient and Family Evaluation Form. In: Wizowski L, Harper T, Hutchings T, eds. The tools and forms you can use to develop patient education materials. Hamilton: Hamilton Health Science, 2003: 106.Google Scholar
15.Gerteis, M, Edgman-Levitan, S, Daley, J, Delbanco, T L. Through the Patient's Eye: Understand and Promoting Patient-Centered Care. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1993.Google Scholar
16.Stewart, M, Brown, J B, Weston, W Wet al. Patient-Centered Medicine: Transforming the Clinical Method, 2nd edition. Abingdon, UK: Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, 2003.Google Scholar
17.Chan, K. Staff Evaluation Form – Head & Neck Patient Education Booklet. www.surveymonkey.com. Palo Alto, California, USA: SurveyMonkey Inc., 2006.Google Scholar
18.Murphy, B A, Gilbert, J, Ridner, S H. Systemic and global toxicities of head and neck treatment. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2007; 7: 1043–1053.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Top 10 Languages Requested for Face-to-face Interpreter Services at Princess Margaret Hospital Interpretation & Translation Services. Toronto: Princess Margaret Hospital 2009.Google Scholar
20.Zarcadoolas, C, Pleasant, A, Greer, D S. Understanding health literacy: an expanded model. Health Promot Int 2005; 20: 195–203.Google Scholar
21.Halkett, G, Merchant, S, Jiwa, Met al. Effective communication and information provision in radiotherapy—the role of radiation therapists. J Radiother Pract 2010; 9: 3–16.Google Scholar
22.Ryhanen, A M, Johansson, K, Virtanen, Het al. Evaluation of written patient educational materials in the field of diagnostic imaging. Radiography 2009; 15: e1–e5.Google Scholar
23.Semple, C J, McGowan, B. Need for appropriate written information for patients, with particular reference to head and neck cancer. J Clin Nurs 2002; 11: 585–593.Google Scholar
24.Hoffman-Goetz, L, Friedman, D B. A systematic review of culturally sensitive cancer prevention resources for ethnic minorities. Ethn Dis 2006; 16: 971–977.Google Scholar