The Information Needs of Breast Cancer Patients at All Stages of Their Journey: A Scoping Review

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Adequate and timely information is essential to reduce anxiety, uncertainty, and psychological distress among breast cancer patients. However, many women report dissatisfaction with the information they receive, and evidence addressing patients' information needs across the entire disease continuum remains limited. Purpose: This scoping review aimed to synthesize evidence of the information needs among breast cancer patients across different phases of the cancer continuum, from diagnosis to post-treatment survivorship. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies were identified through systematic searches of EBSCOhost, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis, supplemented by Google Scholar searches, reference list screening, and expert network recommendations. Study selection followed the Population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework, focusing on women with breast cancer, information needs, and stages of the cancer continuum. Results: Forty eligible studies were included. Four major themes of informational needs were identified across the disease trajectory. In the diagnostic phase, patients primarily sought information on disease characteristics, prognosis, treatment options, and emotional support. During treatment, information needs focused on treatment management, self-care, lifestyle modification, and psychosocial support. In the post-treatment and survivorship phase, patients emphasized long-term follow-up, recurrence prevention, and quality-of-life issues. Across all phases, patients preferred trusted healthcare professionals and multimodal information delivery formats. Conclusion: Breast cancer patients have diverse and evolving information needs throughout the cancer continuum. Addressing these needs through structured, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered information strategies is essential to reduce anxiety, support informed decision-making, and improve quality of care.