National Cancer Information Service in Italy: an information points network as a new model for providing information for cancer patients

ABSTRACTThe international literature data reportthat good information and communicationare fundamental components of a therapeutic process. They contribute to improvethe patient-health care professional relationship, to facilitate doctor-patient relation -ships, therapeutic compliance and adherence, and to the informed consentin inno -vative clinical trials.We report the results of a multicentric national initiative that developed a 17-infor -mation-structure network: 16 Information Points locatedin the major state-fundedcertified cancer centers and general hospitals across Italy and a national Help-line atthenonprofitorganizationAIMaC(theItalianoncologicpatients,familiesandfriendsassociation), and updated the already existing services with the aim to create the Na -tional Cancer Information Service (SION). The project is the result of a series of pilotand research projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Health.The Information Service model proposed is based on some fundamental elements: 1)human interaction with experienced operators, adequatelytrained in communica -tion and information, complemented with 2) virtual interaction (Help line, Internet,blog, forum and social network); 3) informative material adequatefor both scientificaccuracy and communicative style; 4) adequatelocations for appropriate positioningand privacy ( adequatevisibility); 5) appropriate advertising.F i rs teu lc om ng f h av b d“Communication and Information to patients” as a“Public Health Instrument” to theNational Cancer Plan approved by the Ministry of Health for the years 2010-2012.IntroductionThe international literature data reportthat good information and communicationare fundamental components of a therapeutic process. They contribute to improvethe patient-health provider relationship, to facilitate doctor-patient relationships,therapeutic compliance and adherence, and to the informed consentin innovativeclinical trials