The needs of family members of patients receiving radioactive iodine.

The current literature on radionuclide therapy is heavily based on health care professionals' perspectives and provides little insight regarding what patients or family members identify as their needs or concerns. Family members (N = 130) of patients undergoing treatment with radioactive iodine were selected from eight programs across Canada to participate in a survey to identify the needs they had when a close relative was undergoing treatment with radioactive iodine. The results of the survey indicated family members experienced worries and concerns about the patient being at home after treatment, and there was variation in their knowledge about what precautions were needed. Family members provided evidence that many experienced psychosocial distress, but very few received adequate assistance for their difficulties.