Compare information needs and their time of development between

To compare the two groups on their information needs and their time of development, a series of between-subjects analyses was performed. Initially the means of both groups’ responses on the time of information need development post-diagnosis are shown in Table 4.9. The period 6 months post-post-diagnosis reveals the trajectory of patients’ and significant others’ information needs development (Figure 4.2). While most of the participants from both groups indicated that they developed their information needs closer to diagnosis, data from patients reported a rise in responses after 3 months of diagnosis while significant others showed a decline of responses after the 1^stmonth post-diagnosis.

Table 4.9: Frequencies of participants’ responses on time of information needs development

Immediately Less than 1 month

1-3 months 4-6 months More than 6 months

Patients 40.55 (6.06) 11.73 (3.26) 3.18 (1.54) 5.18 (1.54) 10.36 (2.73) Significant others 17.82 (2.4) 3.91 (1.14) 1.91 (0.7) 0.36 (0.5) 1 (1) Note: Standard Deviations are reported in parentheses.

Figure 4.2: Frequencies development.

A Mann-Whitney test was implemented to investigate the differences needs between patients and significant others (Table

significantly differ on the type of

A Mann-Whitney test was then implemented to test differences between the groups on the time of information needs development (Table

others were found to develop the need for inform

number of items. There were significant differences between patients and significant others on the development of

729, r = -.15), the “more information about prostate ca

.18), the “self-care issues or home care during recovery” need (U = 681.5, r = the “interaction issues with health care providers” need (U = 571.5, r =

“maintaining psychological health” need (U = 709, r = were small. For all of these information needs

develop the need for information significantly closer to diagnosis than patients 0

Frequencies of participants’ responses on time of information need

Whitney test was implemented to investigate the differences i

needs between patients and significant others (Table 4.10). The two groups did not ntly differ on the type of their information needs.

Whitney test was then implemented to test differences between the time of information needs development (Table 4.11

others were found to develop the need for information earlier than patients number of items. There were significant differences between patients and significant others on the development of the “available treatments/treatment options”need (U =

“more information about prostate cancer” need (U = 734.5, r = care issues or home care during recovery” need (U = 681.5, r =

“interaction issues with health care providers” need (U = 571.5, r =

“maintaining psychological health” need (U = 709, r = -.15). All of the effect sizes were small. For all of these information needs, significant others were found to develop the need for information significantly closer to diagnosis than patients

Patients

Significant others

of participants’ responses on time of information needs

in information two groups did not

Whitney test was then implemented to test differences between the two 4.11). Significant earlier than patients on a number of items. There were significant differences between patients and significant

“available treatments/treatment options”need (U = ncer” need (U = 734.5, r = -care issues or home -care during recovery” need (U = 681.5, r = -.12),

“interaction issues with health care providers” need (U = 571.5, r = -.09) and the .15). All of the effect sizes significant others were found to develop the need for information significantly closer to diagnosis than patients did.

Significant others

Table 4.10: Mann-Whitney test for differences between patients and significant others on type of information needs (N = 98)

Information Need Patients (n=

73) Significant others (n= 25)

U R

Available treatments/ options 51.2 44.5 788 -.11

More information about prostate cancer 51.2 44.5 787 -.11

Likely progress of disease 51.4 43.9 772 -.12

Self-care issues or home care during recovery

51.4 43.9 772.5 -.12

Effect on family, friends or caregivers 50.8 45.7 812 -.08

Emotional reactions, emotional support,

coping with cancer 50.7 45.9 822 -.07

Interaction issues with health care providers 50.4 46.9 847 -.05

Sexuality 52 42.3 731.5 -.09

Cost of treatment, insurance coverage, or

other financial issues 51 45.1 801.5 -.15

Diet and nutrition 51 45.1 802 -.1

Maintaining psychological health 45.8 41 685 -.08

Therefore, even though there were no significant differences between the groups regarding their information needs there were significant differences in the time of some of the needs’ development after diagnosis between patients and significant others.

Table 4.11: Mann-Whitney test for differences between patients and significant others on time of information needs development (N = 98)

Information Need Patients (n=

73) Significant others (n= 25)

U r

Available treatments/ options 50.7 42.1 729 -.15^*

More information about prostate cancer 50.7 42.4 734.5 -.18*

Likely progress of disease 50.2 43.6 764.5 -.16

Self-care issues or home care during recovery

51.4 40.3 681.5 -.12^*

Effect on family, friends or caregivers 50.7 42.3 731.5 -.19 Emotional reactions, emotional support,

coping with cancer 49.9 44.4 785.5 -.14

Interaction issues with health care

providers 53 35.9 571.5 -.09^**

Sexuality 49.3 46.3 833 -.29

Cost of treatment, insurance coverage, or other financial issues

50 44.3 782.5 -.05

Diet and nutrition 50.7 42.3 731.5 -.09

Maintaining psychological health 51 41.4 709 -.15^*

* p < .05 ** p < .01

In order to further investigate the nature and differences between the two groups with regard to their information needs development after diagnosis, the needs were then conceptualized according to their content (see section 4.2.3).

A reliability analysis was conducted in order to establish the grouping variables’

interrelated reliability and unidimensionality (Table 4.12). All new variables had a Cronbach’s α higher than the generally accepted value of .7 which is considered appropriate for measuring psychological constructs (Kline, 1999).

Table 4.12: Reliability Analyses for tested scales (N=98)

Scales α

Treatment-specific information needs .94 Disease-specific information needs .98 Interaction-specific information needs .90 Emotional health-specific information needs .91 Lifestyle-specific information needs .87

Since all scales were consistent, the Mann-Whitney test for differences between patients and significant others regarding the time of information needs development were repeated to investigate any differences in the nature of information needs (Table 4.13). The computed variables were used in the analysis.

Table 4.13: Mann-Whitney test for differences between patients and significant others on time of information needs development (N = 98)

Information Need Patients (n= 73) Significant

others (n= 25) U r

Treatment-specific 51.7 39.4 660.5 -.20^*

Emotional health-specific 50.6 42.5 736.5 -.12

Lifestyle-specific 50.4 43.2 755.5 -.11

Disease-specific 50.3 43.4 760.5 -.13

Interaction-specific 52.1 38.3 632.5 -.23^*

* p < .05

Results from the analysis indicate that significant differences were found between patients (Mdn = 51.7) and significant others (Mdn = 39.4) on treatment-specific information needs, U = 660.5, p < .05 and between patients (Mdn = 52.1) and significant others (Mdn = 38.3) on interaction-specific information needs, U = 632.5, p < .05. On both scales, significant others reported developing the need for relevant information closer to diagnosis than patients did. No significant differences were

found between the two groups on disease-specific, emotional health-specific and lifestyle-specific information needs.

To sum up, patients and significant others both reported developing their need for information closer to diagnosis. However, patients reported an increased interest in information after the third month post-diagnosis while significant others reported a gradual decline in their interest in information after the diagnosis of their significant other.

Also, patients and significant others did not significantly differ on their information needs. However they significantly differed on the time when they developed a need for information regarding available treatments and treatment options, more information on prostate cancer, self-care issues-home care during recovery, interaction issues with health care providers and maintaining psychological health with significant others reporting that they developed a need for relevant information closer to diagnosis rather than the patients did. Overall, significant others developed a need for treatment-specific and interaction-specific information closer to diagnosis than patients.