On World Cancer Day, 4 February, communication researchers at the University of Amsterdam will start research on chemotherapy awareness in the Netherlands. The research, ‘Chemotherapy: How much do you know about it?’, was commissioned by Public Eyes Healthcare Communications. It will focus on mapping out knowledge and perceptions about the effects and side-effects of chemotherapy. The findings will then be used to provide better patient-oriented and patient-friendly information.

Dr Julia van Weert, senior university lecturer in Health Communication will coordinate the research. ‘A great deal has changed over the last few year with regard to undergoing chemotherapy treatment and managing the side effects. What we want to know is whether attitudes and misconceptions persist and the extent to which these deviate from actual patient experiences’ explains Van Weert. The researchers are also very interested in the differences in the perceptions of older and younger people.

Both people who have had chemotherapy treatment and people who have not had the treatment will be asked to take part in the research, using two different questionnaires. University of Amsterdam researchers worked closely with a panel of experts when developing the questionnaires. The research was made possible through financing from Amgen BV.

Interested in participating?

Research will be carried out between 4 February and 4 April 2012 with participants 18 years or older. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes. The questionnaire (available in Dutch only) can be found at the link below.