Mapping the cancer patient information landscape: A comparative analysis of patient groups across Europe and North America

Little is known about how patient groups provide information for patients. We invited 838 patient groups from Europe and North America to participate in an online survey. The survey covered: (i) availability, accessibility and quality of information provided; (ii) methods by which patient groups communicate; (iii) ways in which patient groups acquire information and confirm its veracity/accuracy; (iv) how people access information online. European patient groups were significantly less effective in providing medical-related information than their North American counterparts in: clinical trials, potential causes of cancer, medical research, diagnosis/screening, symptoms, treatments (all p