Table 2. Importance and satisfaction level of respondents relating to information received about various aspects of care.
| Aspects of care Items of care |
Importance level | Satisfaction level | Satisfaction level weighted by importance level of item of care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (95% CI) | Mean (95% CI) | Mean (95% CI) | |
| Diagnosis (n = 396) | 4.39 (4.31, 4.46) | 3.93 (3.86, 3.99) | 3.94 (3.88, 5.01) |
| Being informed about which type of cancer you have | 4.50 (4.42, 4.58) | 4.11 (4.03, 4.19) | |
| Being informed about the causes of the type of cancer you have | 4.30 (4.21, 3.39) | 3.71 (3.62, 3.79) | |
| Being informed about the variety of treatment options available in terms of managing your cancer | 4.48 (4.40, 4.56) | 4.08 (4.01, 4.15) | |
| Being informed about the survival rates for your cancer | 4.27 (4.17, 4.37) | 3.82 (3.73, 3.90) | |
| Tests and investigations (n = 405) | 4.48 (4.41, 4.55) | 4.07 (4.01, 4.14) | 4.08 (4.01, 4.14) |
| Being informed about the purpose of the tests (e.g., computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging scans and blood tests) | 4.46 (4.39, 4.54) | 4.11 (4.04, 4.18) | |
| Being informed about when you can expect the results | 4.42 (4.34, 4.49) | 4.03 (4.95, 4.10) | |
| Being explained about the results of the tests | 4.56 (4.50, 4.63) | 4.09 (4.01, 4.16) | |
| Surgery (n = 238) | 4.49 (4.40, 4.58) | 4.05 (3.96, 4.14) | 4.06 (3.97, 4.14) |
| Being informed about the possible benefits or harms of your cancer surgery (including its success rate) | 4.53 (4.44, 4.62) | 4.11 (4.01, 4.21) | |
| Being informed before the operation for how you would feel afterwards | 4.50 (4.41, 4.60) | 4.07 (3.97, 4.17) | |
| Being informed about the time period of recovery and how you can be an active participant in your treatment | 4.48 (4.39, 4.58) |
3.99 (3.88, 4.10) |
|
| Being informed about the possible late effects of surgery | 4.44 (4.33, 4.55) |
3.92 (3.81, 4.03) |
|
| Being informed on how to care for yourself physically post-surgery | 4.45 (4.36, 4.55) |
4.07 (3.97, 4.17) |
|
| Being informed about what you should or should not do after you leave the hospital/centre | 4.48 (4.39, 4.57) |
4.08 (3.98, 4.17) |
|
| Being informed about who to contact if you are worried about your condition or treatment after you leave the hospital/centre | 4.54 (4.45, 4.63) |
4.12 (4.02, 4.21) |
|
| Radiation therapy (n = 118) | 4.35 (4.20, 4.50) |
4.04 (3.92, 4.15) |
4.04 (3.93, 4.16) |
| Being informed about the possible benefits and harm of radiation therapy (including its success rate) | 4.33 (4.16, 4.50) |
4.07 (3.93, 4.20) |
|
| Being equipped with enough information for decision-making about whether you should receive radiation therapy | 4.34 (4.18, 4.50) |
4.02 (3.89, 4.14) |
|
| Being informed about the potential side effects caused by radiation therapy and how to cope with them | 4.40 (4.24, 4.55) |
4.04 (3.92, 4.17) |
|
| Being informed about the duration of the entire radiation therapy and how you can be an active participant in your treatment | 4.36 (4.21, 4.51) |
4.15 (4.04, 4.27) |
|
| Being informed about the possible late effects of radiation therapy | 4.34 (4.17, 4.50) |
3.93 (3.79, 4.07) |
|
| Being informed about who to contact regarding any problems you may have after you leave the centre | 4.35 (4.19, 4.51) |
4.00 (3.86, 4.14) |
|
| Chemotherapy (n = 402) | 4.51 (4.44, 4.58) |
4.11 (4.04, 4.17) |
4.11 (4.05, 4.18) |
| Being informed about the possible benefits and harm of chemotherapy (including its success rate) | 4.52 (4.44, 4.59) |
4.10 (4.03, 4.17) |
|
| Being equipped with enough information for decision-making about whether you should receive chemotherapy | 4.51 (4.43, 4.58) |
4.10 (4.02, 4.17) |
|
| Being informed about the potential side effects caused by chemotherapy and how to cope with them | 4.57 (4.50, 4.63) |
4.18 (4.11, 4.25) |
|
| Being informed about the duration of the entire chemotherapy treatment and how you can be an active participant in your treatment | 4.50 (4.43, 4.57) |
4.14 (4.07, 4.21) |
|
| Being informed about the possible late effects of chemotherapy | 4.45 (4.37, 4.53) |
3.95 (3.87, 4.03) |
|
| Being informed about who to contact regarding any problems you may have after you leave the centre | 4.53 (4.45, 4.60) |
4.17 (4.10, 4.24) |
|
| Hormonal therapy (n = 44) | 4.49 (4.29, 4.69) |
4.16 (3.95, 4.37) |
4.17 (3.96, 4.37) |
| Being informed about the possible benefits and harm of hormonal (including its success rate) | 4.46 (4.20, 4.71) |
4.09 (3.81, 4.38) |
|
| Being equipped with enough information for decision-making about whether you should receive hormonal therapy | 4.50 (4.28, 4.72) |
4.16 (3.93, 4.39) |
|
| Being informed about the potential side effects caused by hormonal therapy and how to cope with them | 4.50 (4.30, 4.70) |
4.21 (3.97, 4.44) |
|
| Being informed about the duration of the entire hormonal therapy treatment and how you can be an active participant in your treatment | 4.48 (4.28, 4.68) |
4.18 (3.96, 4.40) |
|
| Being informed about the possible late effects of hormonal therapy | 4.46 (4.25, 4.66) |
3.96 (3.65, 4.25) |
|
| Being informed about who to contact regarding any problems you may have after you leave the centre | 4.55 (4.35, 4.74) |
4.34 (4.14, 4.54) |
|
| Clinical Trials (n = 60) | 4.49 (4.30, 4.69) |
4.09 (3.93, 4.24) |
4.09 (3.93, 4.24) |
| Being informed about the eligibility for clinical trials | 4.42 (4.20, 4.63) |
4.07 (3.88, 4.26) |
|
| Being informed about the potential risks and benefits of this treatment | 4.53 (4.33, 4.73) |
4.15 (3.99, 4.31) |
|
| Being informed about your rights as trial participants | 4.48 (4.28, 4.69) |
4.10 (3.93, 4.27) |
|
| Being informed about the differences between standard treatment and this treatment | 4.50 (4.30, 4.70) |
3.98 (3.79, 4.18) |
|
| Being informed about the process and procedures of clinical trial | 4.47 (4.26, 4.67) |
4.05 (3.88, 4.21) |
|
| Being informed about the duration of the entire trial and how you can be an active participant in your treatment | 4.50 (4.30, 4.70) |
3.98 (3.80, 4.17) |
|
| Being informed about whether you could quit halfway after you participated | 4.50 (4.30, 4.70) |
4.20 (4.05, 4.35) |
|
| Being informed about who to contact regarding any problems you may have after you leave the centre | 4.55 (4.35, 4.75) |
4.15 (3.98, 4.32) |
|
| Sexual aspect of care (n = 341) | 2.99 (2.84, 3.15) |
3.29 (3.20, 3.37) |
3.30 (3.21, 3.38) |
| Being informed about the effects of cancer treatment on your sexuality or fertility | 3.20 (3.04, 3.36) |
3.37 (3.28, 3.46) |
|
| Being informed about whether having sex during treatment can be harmful to you or your partner | 3.08 (2.92, 3.24) |
3.27 (3.18, 3.36) |
|
| Being informed about when you could or could not have sex | 3.03 (2.87, 3.19) |
3.26 (3.17, 3.35) |
|
| Being informed about the options that can help in your fertility (e.g., sperms banking and embryo storage) | 2.85 (2.68, 3.01) |
3.28 (3.19, 3.36) |
|
| Being informed when you can start a family or have children after the cancer treatment | 2.80 (2.63, 2.97) |
3.26 (3.17, 3.34) |
|
| Psychosocial aspect of care (n = 391) | 3.88 (3.78, 3.98) |
3.53 (3.45, 3.62) |
3.54 (3.46, 3.63) |
| Being informed about the psychological and social problems caused by the types of cancer you have and its treatment | 3.84 (3.72, 3.95) |
3.44 (3.35, 3.53) |
|
| Being informed about the services at NCCS for dealing with psychological and social problems caused by cancer you have and its treatment | 3.89 (3.77, 4.00) |
3.47 (3.37, 3.56) |
|
| Being informed that the cancer is not contagious | 3.92 (3.80, 4.03) |
3.70 (3.60, 3.79) |
|
| Supportive care (n = 410) | 4.10 (4.02, 4.18) |
3.33 (3.25, 3.41) |
3.36 (3.28, 3.44) |
| Being informed about the types of food/supplement that are good for you | 4.46 (4.38, 4.53) |
3.53 (3.43, 3.63) |
|
| Being informed about things you can do to help yourself get well | 4.42 (4.34, 4.49) |
3.56 (3.46, 3.66) |
|
| Being informed about complementary therapies (e.g., traditional Chinese medicine and art therapy) | 3.98 (3.88, 4.09) |
3.21 (3.11, 3.30) |
|
| Being informed about supporting resources available (e.g., support group and counsellors) | 3.94 (3.83, 4.05) |
3.33 (3.23, 3.43) |
|
| Being informed about the patient education services and classes | 3.78 (3.66, 3.89) |
3.17 (3.08, 3.27) |
|
| Being informed about cancer survivor support services (e.g., counselling, screening and follow-up care for survivors) | 4.07 (3.97, 4.16) |
3.28 (3.18, 3.38) |
|
| Being informed about the multi-disciplinary care clinics where your entire care team discusses your case | 4.06 (3.96, 4.15) |
3.22 (3.12, 3.32) |
|
| Financial care (n = 396) | 4.44 (4.37, 4.52) |
3.64 (3.55, 3.72) |
3.64 (3.56, 3.73) |
| Being informed about the costs of your treatment(s) | 4.49 (4.40, 4.57) |
3.72 (3.63, 3.81) |
|
| Being informed about the coverage by benefits/extended medical insurance | 4.42 (4.34, 4.50) |
3.59 (3.49, 3.68) |
|
| Being informed about Medisave, Medishield and Medifund and how they apply to your situation | 4.46 (4.38, 4.54) |
3.68 (3.59, 3.78) |
|
| Being informed on how to access financial support or advice | 4.40 (4.32, 4.49) |
3.55 (3.45, 3.65) |
|
| Overall experience (n = 411) | 4.41 (4.34, 4.47) |
4.03 (3.97, 4.09) |
4.04 (3.98, 4.10) |
| Receiving information from NCCS professionals, throughout your experience as a cancer patient | 4.43 (4.36, 4.50) |
3.97 (3.89, 4.04) |
|
| Having the opportunity for your family or yourself to talk to a doctor | 4.51 (4.44, 4.57) |
4.14 (4.07, 4.21) |
|
| Receiving a sufficient amount of information to help you make a decision or cope with the disease and treatment | 4.48 (4.41, 4.55) |
3.99 (3.91, 4.07) |
|
| Receiving information that was easy to understand | 4.49 (4.43, 4.55) |
4.07 (4.00, 4.14) |
|
| Receiving information at the time when you need it | 4.45 (4.38, 4.52) |
3.97 (3.90, 4.05) |
|
| Receiving information in the language you understand | 4.48 (4.42, 4.55) |
4.17 (4.10, 4.23) |
|
| Receiving information that was sufficiently sensitive to and respectful of your culture? | 4.08 (3.97, 4.18) |
3.99 (3.92, 4.05) |
|
| Having questions answered honestly | 4.50 (4.44, 4.56) |
4.11 (4.05, 4.18) |
|
| Having enough time to ask the doctor/nurse or healthcare professionals questions | 4.51 (4.45, 4.57) |
4.09 (4.02, 4.16) |
|
| Having a variety of information sources (e.g., leaflet and audio materials) | 4.13 (4.03, 4.23) |
3.79 (3.71, 3.87) |
CI: Confidence interval; NCCS: National Cancer Centre Singapore
Bold values represent the mean values less than 4.0 with P-value < 0.05 for comparison with 4.0 using the one-sample t-test.