Public Information and Professional Education About Cancer

Abstract

As the term “public information” in the title implies, the scope of this presentation goes beyond the topic of supportive care and will cover some problems of cancer information and education which concern the public, that is the entire population at risk of cancer. Many of the principles and rules discussed will, however, be applicable to the situation of the cancer patient and his environment as well. “Professional education,” which is to be discussed in the second part, has two different aspects which will have to be dealt with separately: the information which has to be provided to the health professional on the one hand and the messages and educational efforts which are delivered by physicians, nurses, and other health professionals to the patients and the public on the other. The focus of this presentation will be on the arguments for the need for good public information on such a difficult and multidimensional problem as “cancer” and on some methodological aspects which often pose problems especially for the medical profession. Often it can even be observed that the role of the physician in cancer information and education is being underestimated and viewed by doctors as a subject of minor importance. Some special attention will therefore be given to the role of physicians in professional and public education; but the issues discussed here are of course of importance for all health professionals in the field of cancer.