J Mossman

Do men with prostate or colorectal cancer seek different information and support from women with cancer

Male cancer patients’ use of a national cancer information service, their requests and key predictors of these over the period April 1996 to March 1998 are presented, in comparison with women. The most frequent requests of 411 prostate, 162 male and 217 female colorectal cancer patients were similar: site-specific information, emotional support, publications, specific therapies. Research or clinical trials (P< 0.05), diet and nutrition (P< 0.001) requests differed between men with prostate and colorectal cancers; complementary therapies (P< 0.05), prognosis (P< 0.05) requests differed between male and female colorectal cancer patients. Among prostate cancer patients, employed men aged 60+ were more likely to need emotional support than retired men aged 70 +; men < 59 years old were more likely to request publications, but less likely to enquire about specific therapies than others. Among male colorectal cancer patients, employed men were less likely to request site-specific information, but more likely to need emotional support than retired men; patients from geographical areas other than Thames were more likely to request publications; patients from manual classes were less likely to enquire about specific therapies than those from non-manual classes. The complexity of information and support seeking behaviour is demonstrated; no pattern was found among men or in comparison with women. Further research is needed to enable development of services that are appropriate to individual needs and concerns.

An analysis of first-time enquirers to the CancerBACUP information service: variations with cancer site, demographic status and geographical location

SummaryA retrospective comparison of cancer incidence data and, where relevant, population data with 16 955 first-time users (patients, relatives and friends) of a national cancer information service (CancerBACUP) during the period April 1995 to March 1996 is presented. The number of events observed was compared with the number of events expected, were the national rates of cancer incidence and population demographics apply. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) (observed – expected ratios) were used to indicate any differences. Statistically significant differences (P< 0.001) in the observed and expected sex, age and primary site distribution of patients enquired about were found. Statistically significant differences (P< 0.001) were also identified for the age, employment status, socioeconomic class and geographical location of first-time enquirers (patients, relatives and friends). Enquiries about brain, testis and breast cancers and non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) were substantially higher than expected; enquiries about bladder, lung, stomach and colorectal cancers were much lower than expected. As the service is provided via a freephone number, it is available to all, and users might be expected to berandomly distributed across the variables listed. The underlying reasons for the differences identified need to be investigated, and the role of information in the care of cancer patients should be formally evaluated.