Information Seeking Behavior in Patients with Cancer Diagnosis: A systematic Review Study

Introduction and Aims: Information seeking behavior (the way that people search for and utilize information) in patients with cancer is a way to reduce despair, hopelessness and the uncertain future. But finding information in cancer patients for taking his individual future decisions has always been a challenge. The purpose of this article is to find ways to inform cancer patients about their disease .Materials and Methods: The study reviews the latest Iranian and foreign articles. In Persian language bases, MAGI RAN, SID, NOOR MAGS and GOOGLE SCHOLAR articles were searched from ۱۳۸۰ to the present to two pages. In English-language sites, SCOPUS, WEB OF SIENCE, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, SCIENCE DIRECT and PUBMED articles are searched from ۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۲۰ to two pages.Results: Finally, thirty completely related articles were found . All patients require basic information such as diagnosis, treatment and side effects in cancer, but they do not necessarily seek information themselves. Education level, patient age, age at diagnosis, gender, income, type of cancer, availability of search resources are effective criteria for seeking information. The sources of information in these people were often medical team such as physicians, nurses, health personnel and eventually was the internet.Conclusion: Findings indicate a growing need for new ways of accessing health information in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and need to consider culture, individual levels, disease types, attitudes and other features.