Investigation on Information Seeking Behavior and Information Needs of Head and Neck Cancer Patients

• Main Authors: Skalnaya Oxana, 雅薩娜
• Other Authors: Jiun-Yu Yu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/74sqbp

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 商學研究所 === 105 === Cancer is regarded as one of the major illnesses nowadays. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is relatively widespread in East Asia, especially in Taiwan region. In Taiwan, National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital is the best medical institution; with excellent medical specialists and resources, it is regarded as one of the best destinations for cancer treatment in the country. This study aims at understanding information-seeking behavior and information needs of the NTU Hospital’s HNC patients and other related problems for this group of patients. The author addressed the research problem using a qualitative approach. Observation and in-depth interviews were chosen as the main data collection methods, and a framework content analysis technique was employed. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted: fourteen interviews with patients, 3 interviews with caregivers, and four interviews with medical specialists. Three main themes and nine categories were identified and discussed. It was discovered that the participants have different information-seeking strategies and utilize differing information sources. Other patients and other patients’ caregivers were indicated as one of the major methods of acquiring information and nutrition-related information provision was stated as insufficient. Problems with utilization of the NTU Hospital’s resources were highlighted. The recommendations in regard to a more comprehensive information delivery based on this study’s findings were suggested.