PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY Psycho-Oncology 12: 567–579 (2003) Published online 8 May 2003 in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/pon.674 AUDIOTAPED SOCIAL COMPARISON INFORMATION FOR CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADIOTHERAPY: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF PROCEDURAL, EMOTIONAL AND COPING INFORMATION FEMKE T.C. BENNENBROEK a, *, BRAM P. BUUNK a , HEIDI E. STIEGELIS b , MARI . ET HAGEDOORN b , ROBBERT SANDERMAN b , ALFONS C.M. VAN DEN BERGH c and GERRIT BOTKE c a Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands b Northern Centre for Healthcare Research, University of Groningen, The Netherlands c Radiation Therapy Department, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands SUMMARY The present study focused on the effects of social comparison information on subjective understanding of radiation therapy, validation of emotions, and self-efficacy of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The effects of three different audiotapes, containing different kinds of social comparison information, were examined. On the procedural tape a man and woman discussed their illness and radiation treatment, on the emotion tape they focused on the emotional aspects of these issues, and on the coping tape they focused on the way they had been coping. The effects of these tapes were measured on subjective understanding about radiation therapy, validation and recognition of emotions, self-efficacy, and mood. The results indicate positive effects of the tapes, especially of the procedural and the coping tape. These audiotapes increased understanding of radiation therapy, self-efficacy and the feeling of validation of emotions. Therefore, these tapes may be an important supplement to existing patient education information. Possible explanations and practical implications are discussed. Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. INTRODUCTION Currently, roughly 40% of all cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy (MacLeod and Jackson, 1999), making it one of the most frequently used treatments for cancer besides surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation treatments can have physical side effects including short-term effects like skin alterations, fatigue, and nausea, but also long-term effects like secondary tumors, cognitive impairment and sterility (Perez and Brady, 1998; Smets et al., 1998). Furthermore, these treatments can have severe psychological consequences, such as uncertainty, anxiety, depres- sion, psychological distress, feelings of shame and guilt, as well as changes in body perception and self-esteem (Andersen and Tewfik, 1985; Chandra et al., 1998; Munro and Potter, 1996). Of these psychological consequences, Van den Borne and Pruyn (1985) specified uncertainty as one of the major psychological problems among cancer patients. The need for information among cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy is reportedly high (Harrison-Woermke and Graydon, 1993). Patients display a high need for informa- tion, especially regarding the disease itself, the prognosis, tests and treatment(s), as well as for information regarding physical care and how to deal with their feelings and concerns (Bilodeau and Degner, 1996; Galloway et al., 1997; Graydon Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 25 March 2002 Accepted 21 August 2002 *Correspondence to: Social and Organizational Psychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands. E-mail: f.t.c.bennenbroek@ppsw.rug.nl