Quantitative Evaluation of Healthcare Information Provided to Patients with Lung Cancer: Patient Satisfaction Survey of The Japan Lung Cancer Society

Background: Healthcare professionals are increasingly providing medical information to patients. However, few objective evaluations of the information’s usefulness exist. This study posited that analyzing objective, quantified data facilitates future information provision. Our questionnaire survey on patient satisfaction with medical information using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer’s (EORTC) Quality of Life 25-item information module (QLQ-INFO25) was unprecedented in Japan. Methods: Lung cancer patients were enrolled in the trial in response to calls from patient support groups and the Japanese Lung Cancer Society. Patient satisfaction was based on information obtained from the 2019 Japanese Lung Cancer Society’s patient guidebook and a web-based survey of patients with lung cancer. Satisfaction with the information was analyzed based on EORTC QLQ-INFO25 scores and stratified into user and nonusers of the guidebook. Results: Of 332 participants (110 male, 222 female), 283 (85.2%) completed the questionnaire, among which, 170 (60.1%) respondents participated in the patient advocacy group and 82 (29.0%) read the guidebook. Participants found the research through online sources or by responding to an invitation from their primary physician or patient support group. Seventy-one users (91%) were satisfied with the guidebook content as shown by the individual scale score on the QLQ–INFO25. No statistically significant differences were observed based on the presence or absence of information in the guidebook. Subgroup analysis revealed a trend toward greater satisfaction among participants that joined the patient group and used the guidebook. Conclusions: Guidebooks and patient advocacy groups are effective in providing information to patients. Our results provide an objective basis for discussing information provision for patients with lung cancer. Strategies should be developed to communicate information reflecting patients’ diverse backgrounds.