Perceived importance of evidence-based psychosocial clinical guidelines for Hong Kong Chinese women with breast cancer: opinions of patients and health care providers

Aim  The aim of this study was to assess Chinese breast cancer patients’ and health care providers’ (HCPs) perceptions of psychosocial clinical guidelines developed by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Breast Cancer Centre. Materials and methods  A convenience sample of Hong Kong Chinese women diagnosed with breast cancer was recruited. In addition, all surgeons and clinical/medical oncologists registered with the Hong Kong Medical Council were invited to complete a mailed survey. Both women and HCPs were asked to rate the importance of the 55 psychosocial clinical guideline items. HCPs also rated the feasibility of implementing each item in their practice. Overall, 344 of 362 (95%) women completed the face-to-face interview. Of 490 eligible HCPs, 75 (15%) completed the mailed survey. Results  At least 50% of the women rated 16 of the 55 psychosocial issues as an essential part of psychosocial care in clinical practice. The top ten ranked items rated essential by patients addressed disease and treatment information provision and question opportunity. HCPs also placed high priority on the scope and opportunities for information giving. Emotional care was intermediately valued. Practical issues and providing social support were rated by both patients and HCPs as the least important aspect of psychosocial care in clinical practice. Fewer than half of the HCPs rated any psychosocial item as feasible to implement in their practice. Conclusions  Chinese women value information provision and question opportunities, highlighting the need of HCPs to address these issues. Interventions that facilitate HCP’s provision of psychosocial support in breast cancer should be set as a high priority.