Original article © 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd European Journal of Cancer Care , 2004, 13 , 6–10 Differences in enquiries to CancerBACUP information service by living arrangements M. BOUDIONI, senior researcher (formerly research officer, cancerbacup), College of Health, London, UK , J. MOSSMAN, independent health services consultant (formerly chief executive, cancerbacup) , 1 Buxton Close, Marshalswick, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK , M. BOULTON, phd honmfphm, professor of sociology , School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane Campus, Oxford, UK & P. HARDY, research fellow , Medical Statistics Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK BOUDIONI M., MOSSMAN J., BOULTON M. & HARDY P. (2004) European Journal of Cancer Care 13 , 6–10 Differences in enquiries to CancerBACUP information service by living arrangements The study’s aim was to ascertain whether living alone is associated with the use of an independent cancer information service. An Enquirer Record Form is completed for every fifth enquirer to the service; two questions asking whether enquirers, patients, relatives/friends were living alone or with others where asked in association with the routine questions. A total of 552 callers were asked in a 5-week period, 77% of all callers in these categories. The main findings were: (1) the proportion of enquirers living alone was similar to the general population; (2) among enquirers, patients were more likely to live alone than relatives/friends; (3) requests differed by whether living alone and by type of enquirer, for example, significantly more people living with others requested emotional support than those living alone, and this contrast was most marked for patients than relatives/friends. This study, notwithstanding its limitations, highlights some of the differences in the use of a service and demonstrates the complexity of information and support seeking. Keywords: cancer services, information, living alone, living with others, support. Correspondence address: Markella Boudioni, Senior Researcher, College of Health, (Formerly Research Officer, CancerBACUP), College of Health, 21 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PR, UK (e-mail: mboudioni@yahoo.co.uk). Accepted 7 April 2003 INTRODUCTION Although the wish for information and support from those affected by cancer is well documented (Meissner et al . 1990; Audit Commission 1993; Manfredi et al . 1993; Har- ris 1998; Boudioni et al . 1999), it is less clear what factors are associated with the use of independent cancer infor- mation services, such as CancerBACUP (Harris 1998; Leydon et al . 2000). The population using the CancerBACUP telephone Information Service (CIS) has been previously described, and found to have different illness and socio-demographic characteristics from cancer patients, and from the overall population in Britain (Boudioni et al . 1999). One factor, which has not been examined previously, and may influ- ence information and support seeking, is whether an indi- vidual lives alone or with others. Those who live alone may have limited direct support available and so may look for support elsewhere, including services such as CancerBACUP. HYPOTHESES AND AIMS It was hypothesized that 1 more people who live alone contact services such as CancerBACUP than those in the general population; 2 enquirers to such services who live alone differ by type of enquirer – being a patient or a relative/friend, and Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKEJCCEuropean Journal of Cancer Care1365-2354Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 200313 610 Original ArticleDifferences in enquiries to CancerBACUP information serviceBOUDIONI et al.