頭頸癌病人資訊搜尋行為與資訊需求之探討

Abstract

癌症被認為是現代人的主要疾病之一。在東亞地區尤其台灣，頭頸癌患者相對常見。身為台灣一流的醫療院所，台大醫院優秀的醫療專家與資源使其成為國內公認的癌症治療機構首選。 這份研究旨在透過質性研究了解台大的頭頸癌病人對於頭頸癌相關資訊需求以及蒐集資料的方式。筆者以觀察與深度訪談蒐集研究樣本，並採用 framework content analysis的分析方法。總共進行了二十一次深度訪談，包含十四次與病人、三次與照護者、以及四次與醫療專家的訪談。筆者從中歸類了三個主要題目與九個主要類別，發現訪談參與者會使用不同的方法蒐集資料，並使用不同的資訊來源。病人的最重要資訊來源之一其他病友與其他病友的家屬，而最缺乏的營養相關的資料。台大醫院相關資源的使用問題也特別被指出。最後，本研究建議如何能提供更全面的資訊服務。

Cancer is regarded as one of the major illnesses nowadays. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is relatively widespread in East Asia, especially in Taiwan region. In Taiwan, National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital is the best medical institution; with excellent medical specialists and resources, it is regarded as one of the best destinations for cancer treatment in the country. This study aims at understanding information-seeking behavior and information needs of the NTU Hospital’s HNC patients and other related problems for this group of patients. The author addressed the research problem using a qualitative approach. Observation and in-depth interviews were chosen as the main data collection methods, and a framework content analysis technique was employed. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted: fourteen interviews with patients, three interviews with caregivers, and four interviews with medical specialists. Three main themes and nine categories were identified and discussed. It was discovered that the participants have different information-seeking strategies and utilize differing information sources. Other patients and other patients’ caregivers were indicated as one of the major methods of acquiring information and nutrition-related information provision was stated as insufficient. Problems with utilization of the NTU Hospital’s resources were highlighted. The recommendations in regard to a more comprehensive information delivery based on this study’s findings were suggested.