The Relationship Between Hope and Received Information About Cancer Among Women with Breast Cancer: A Descriptive-Correlational Study

In Western culture, information about different aspects of cancer is directly provided to the individual, but in Eastern culture, health professionals and families do not prefer to inform the patient from diagnosis, treatment, test results, causes of the disease, and the effect of treatment on sexual intercourse in front of patients in order to maintain their hope.

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between hope and received information about cancer (RIAC) among patients with breast cancer.

Using a descriptive-correlational design, this study was conducted from July to December 2019 on 200. Patients with breast cancer were consecutively recruited from 2 hospitals affiliated with the Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The participants completed a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Information module (EORTC QLQ-INFO25), and the Herth hope index.

The response rate was 100% and participants’ mean age was 49.0 ± 10.33. The mean scores of participants’ RIAC and hope were 40.17 ± 11.52 (in the possible range of 0 - 100) and 36.77 ± 4.61 (in the possible range of 12 - 48), respectively. The mean score of hope had significant positive relationships with the mean score of RIAC (r = 0.305; P < 0.001), and educational level (P = 0.004). Moreover, the mean score of RIAC had a significant positive relationship with educational level (0.049).

Greater RIAC is associated with greater hope among patients with breast cancer. Therefore, healthcare providers need to establish effective communication with these patients and provide them with necessary education and information in order to promote their engagement in care plans, improve their self-efficacy, and boost their hope.