Demographic characteristics, call details and psychosocial support needs of the family/friends of someone diagnosed with cancer who access Australian Cancer Council telephone information and support services. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heckel, Leila; Fennell, Kate M.; Mohebbi, Mohammadreza; Byrnes, Monica; Livingston, Patricia M.
• Is Part Of: European journal of oncology nursing. Volume 28(2017)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Cancer -- Oncology -- Community based organizations -- Information and support -- Telephone service; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Research -- Periodicals; Oncology -- Periodicals; Oncology Nursing -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Verpleegkunde; Kanker; Cancer -- Nursing; Cancer -- Research; Oncology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9940231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2017.03.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-3889

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: Community-based cancer organizations provide telephone-based information and support services to assist people diagnosed with cancer and their family/friends. We investigated the demographic characteristics and psychosocial support needs of family/friends who contacted Australian Cancer Council 13 11 20 information and support helplines. Methods: Data collected on 42, 892 family/friends who contacted a 13 11 20 service across Australia from January 2010 to December 2012 were analyzed. Chi-square analysis was used to examine associations between caller groups and reasons for calling, logistic regression to examine age and gender interaction effects. Results: The majority of calls received were from women (81%) of middle- (40%) and high-socio-economic backgrounds (41%), aged 40–59 years (46%); 52% phoned for information on cancer diagnosis (including early detection, risk factors), 22% on treatment/disease management, and 26% phoned seeking psychological/emotional support. Information on a diagnosis was significantly more often the reason older males called, compared to female callers of any age. Overall, 32% found out about the service through Cancer Council resources or events, 20% from the media, 18% from the internet; 11% from health professionals. Conclusions: Family/friends of persons diagnosed with cancer have specific information and support needs. This study identifies groups of family/friends to whom the promotion of this service could be targeted. Within Australia and internationally, clinicians and oncology nurses as well as allied health professionals can provide an important role in increasing access to cancer telephone support services to ensure the needs of the family and friends of people affected by cancer are being met. Highlights: Audit of the Australian Cancer Council 13 11 20 information and support service: calls from family and friends. The helpline service was less used by men and callers from lower SES backgrounds. Information needs were higher than psychological needs. Few callers found out about the helpline through health care professionals. More education and information about the service to the medical community is needed.