Patients' experience of nurses' informational support after diagnosis with a brain tumour

Patients newly diagnosed with a brain tumour embark on a journey with an uncertain destination, laden with stress, uncertainty and fear. Although the literature presents the informational needs of patients with cancer, brain tumour patients have often been neglected in these studies. Patients with brain tumours, whether benign or malignant, are at risk of developing cognitive and physical deficits and even death. The purpose of the present study was to explore patients' experience of receiving information after diagnosis of brain tumour, with specific focus on information given by nurses. A qualitative approach was used to gain an insight into the patients' lived experience using semi-structured interviews. Eight patients diagnosed and treated in a regional neurosurgical unit participated, and two of them took part in a pilot study. The findings reveal that informational support is essential to enhance a patient's ability to cope with the diagnosis. This study also highlights the need for improvement in t...