Table 3.

Summary of the categories and sub-categories of the patients and caregivers

Categories	Sub-categories
	Patients	Informal Caregivers
Types of unmet information needs	• Disease- and treatment-related information	• Disease- and treatment-related information
	• Daily life, particularly food therapy	• Caregiving-related information
	• Psychological and physical symptom management	• Psychological adjustment
	• Financial support	• Financial support
Reasons for information needs not being met	• Patient factors ○ Knowledge and beliefs ○ Poor health status ○ Low motivation: Fear	• Caregiver factors ○ Knowledge and beliefs ○ Low motivation: Fear
	• Healthcare professional factors ○ Have no time due to their heavy workload ○ Uncertain answers	• Healthcare professional factor ○ Have no time due to their heavy workload
	• Family/social support ○ Insufficient family support ○ Social isolation	• Family/social support ○ Insufficient family support
Preferences for provision of information	• Information provider: preferred healthcare professionals	• Information provider: preferred healthcare professionals
	• Information format: written information	• Information format: face-to-face conversations but preferred to hold back unpleasant information from the patient
	• Timing of information: changed and fluctuated throughout disease trajectory	• Timing of information: changed and fluctuated throughout disease trajectory
Meaning and role of information	• Self-management	• Being more prepared for caregiving role
	• Decision-making	• Decision-making and future planning
	• Hope for and chance of survival	• Hope for and chance of survival
	• Psychological impact	• Psychological impact