Means of communication used by patients: information about cancer after diagnosis and during treatment

Abstract

Objective: o identify the media used by patients to obtain information about cancer after diagnosis and during treatment. Method: descriptive qualitative research conducted in a philanthropic hospital in the state of Paraná, Brazil; data were collected at the inpatient oncology unit and the outpatient oncology ward. Results: the findings were divided into four categories; information obtained by health professionals; information obtained from the internet; information obtained through friends and oncology patients; and information obtained through the print and audiovisual media. Conclusion: the main media used by respondents to obtain information were the printed and audiovisual media, the internet, friends and patients with the same diagnosis, and health professionals.