Implementation and evaluation of a telephone cancer information service

The Cancer Information Service, a telephone information and referral service, was implemented to provide cancer patients, their family members, community physicians, and health professionals access to current information about new methods of cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. The use of the service was evaluated over a thirty-six month period by an analysis of more than 20,000 inquiries. Initial findings suggest that the impact of diagnosis and treatment of cancer upon patients and their family members creates needs for information and support not met by patient-physician relationships. Results also suggest that telephone intervention by para-professional counselors can be effective with respect to providing information about cancer and its treatment, as well as limited psychosocial support and referral to available community resources.