Measures assessing information needs were administered to 138 newly diagnosed cancer patients. Demographics were assessed by survey and health literacy was assessed with two commonly used measures: the Rapid Estimate Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and the Short Test of Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA).
Study findings indicate that educational attainment, rather than health literacy, is a significant predictor of information needs.
Overcoming barriers to information needs may be less dependent on literacy considerations and more dependent on issues that divide across levels of educational attainment.
Oncologists and hospital staff should be attentive to the fact that many patients require additional assistance to meet their information needs.