Family members of patients with cancer: what they know, how they know and what they want to know.

BACKGROUND: Recent changes in healthcare management generally and in cancer care in particular, indicate a major shift in the clinical management of cancer from hospitals and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to patients and families. In light of these changes national and international policies and reports by the Department of Health and Children (2001, 2006) and the World Health Organisation (2004) have recommended that HCPs support family members (FMs) to care for loved ones. The purpose of this review therefore was to explore the extent to which FMs' needs are realised by HCPs in practice.

OBJECTIVES: To examine recent research (2000-2010) in relation to; the type of information that FMs of patients with cancer generally seek, how they seek this information from HCPs, and, FMs' experiences of communicating with HCPs in this context.

METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted using key databases Medline, Pub med, Psych-Info and CINAHL.

RESULTS: Thirty four papers were included in the review. Overall the studies demonstrated that FMs of patients with cancer have similar information needs and demonstrate similar strategies for seeking information. While many FMs report positive communication experiences with HCPs and have information needs met, the majority of FMs report negative communication encounters with HCPs.

CONCLUSION: HCPs are highly significant in the lives of FMs of patients with cancer. The review concludes with identifying; FMs most wanted information needs, their struggles with accessing HCPs and the type of communication encounters FMs most desire to have with HCPs. Recommendations for education, practice and research are addressed.