OBJECTIVE: Informational needs among cancer patients are similar, but the degree 
of information disclosure in different cultural areas varies. In this paper, we 
present the results of a cross-cultural study on information received.
METHODS: The EORTC information questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-INFO25, was administered 
during the treatment process. This questionnaire evaluates the information that 
patients report they have received. Cross-cultural differences in information 
have been evaluated using statistical tests such as Kruskall-Wallis and 
multivariate models with covariates to account for differences in clinical and 
demographic characteristics across areas.
RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-one patients from three cultural areas, 
North-Middle Europe, South Europe, and Taiwan, were included in the study. 
Significant differences among the three cultural areas appeared in eight 
QLQ-INFO25 dimensions: information about the disease; medical tests; places of 
care; written information; information on CD/tape/video; satisfaction; wish for 
more information; and information helpfulness. North-Middle Europe patients 
received more written information (mean = 67.2 (North) and 33.8 (South)) and 
South Europe patients received more information on different places of care 
(mean = 24.7 (North) and 35.0 (South)). Patients from North-Middle Europe and 
South Europe received more information than patients from Taiwan about the 
disease (mean = 57.9, 60.6, and 47.1, respectively) and medical tests (70.9, 
70.4, and 54.5), showed more satisfaction (64.8, 70.2, and 35.0), and considered 
the information more helpful (71.9, 73.9, and 50.4). These results were 
confirmed when adjusting for age, education, and disease stage.
CONCLUSION: There are cross-cultural differences in information received. Some 
of these differences are based on the characteristics of each culture.