Determination of the information and support needs of women with primary relatives with breast cancer

Objective: This study was performed in an attempt to determine the information and support needs of women whose first-degree relatives have breast cancer and to what extent these needs are met.Method: Research was conducted in the chemotherapy units and Department of Radiation Oncology and Department of Hematology Oncology policlinics of two university hospitals and one training and research hospital between August 2010 and February 2011. The research sample was consisted of 156 women. Questionnaire Form and Information and Support Needs Questionnaire were used as the data collection tools. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics such as number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used.Results: In general, information need score averages ( :3.72±0.19) of women included in the research sampling was found to be higher than their score averages of support needs ( :3.24±0.41). Likewise, score averages ( :2.01±0.64) of women regarding to what extent their information needs were met were found to be higher than their score averages ( :1.26±0.68) regarding to what extent their support needs were met.Conclusion and Recommendations: The subjects, which were indicated by women as very important in terms of information needs, were determined as; the reasons, treatment, symptoms and findings of breast cancer, breast self examination (BSE) and situations to be changed in the lifestyle so as not to get breast cancer. The subjects of support needs, which were indicated by women as very important, were found as; learning how to do BSE, concerns about the self and the relative regarding the breast cancer and examination of breasts by a health professional. It was found that the information needs, regarding how the women should talk to their children about their breast cancer risk, how they should talk to their families about their breast cancer risk and the information needs concerning the genetic consultancy for themselves and their children were never met. It is suggested for nurses to give information to women whose first-degree relatives have breast cancer, about the subjects such as breast cancer, its reasons, scanning, diagnosis, treatment methods and protection from breast cancer.