Informational stories: a complementary strategy for patients and caregivers with brain metastases

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of story (S) versus fact-based (F) writing styles for educational material on brain metastases. Methods: S and F based materials with equivalent informational content on four topics (radiation therapy, side effects, steroid tapering and palliative care) were constructed. The content, and reader style preference was evaluated using a 20+1 item questionnaire. Cancer patients and caregivers were invited to evaluate the materials.Results: 47 participants completed the questionnaire. Preferences for facts, stories or both were 42, 7 and 51% respectively (p=0.0004). F based materials were superior in providing factual information (e.g., discussion of treatment, side effects) and selected general characteristics (e.g., clarity of information).  There was a trend to suggest S were superior in describing “how it feels to have brain metastases” (21/40F vs. 26/43S), “described how brain metastases affected a spouse” (17/41F vs. 21/47S), and “were sensitive to the frustrations of a patient with brain metastases” (25/40F vs. 30/44S).

Conclusions: Half of the participants preferred to have both fact and story-based materials.

Practice Implications: A combined story and fact-based educational resource may be more effective in conveying sensitive information and should be further investigated.