The effect of timing of the provision of information on anxiety and satisfaction of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Background: To improve the provision of information to their radiotherapy patients, the authors examined whether the timing of given written information has an effect on anxiety and satisfaction.

Methods: Two sources of information were used: 1) a booklet with a description of radiotherapy procedures and the sensations patients can experience; 2) teaching sheets with treatment-site-related information. 68 patients were randomized to a simultaneous-information group (n = 31) and a stepwise-information group (n = 37).