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. 2025 Apr 30:6:100398.
doi: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2025.100398. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Bringing question notes to physicians: A nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan (INFORM study 2020)

Mariko Asai  1   2   3 , Masako Okamura  1 , Maiko Fujimori  1 , Aki Otsuki  4   5 , Junko Saito  4 , Akiko Yaguchi-Saito  4   6 , Aya Kuchiba  7   8 , Yosuke Uchitomi  9 , Taichi Shimazu  4 ; INFORM Study Group
Affiliations

Bringing question notes to physicians: A nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan (INFORM study 2020)

Mariko Asai et al. PEC Innov. .

Abstract

Objective: To describe the behavior of bringing question notes to physicians in Japan and explore the factors associated with this behavior.

Methods: We used data from a nationwide cross-sectional study conducted in Japan on access to health information (INFORM Study 2020). Data from 3605 respondents, 3572 of whom did not miss the primary endpoint of bringing question notes to physicians, were analyzed. The prevalence of weighted ratios of four-item responses (always, usually, sometimes, never) was described, and multivariable logistic regression was used to explore associated variables with "never bringing question notes." We also explored the differences in these factors based on the cancer diagnosis experience.

Results: More than 60 % of all respondents and even among those who had a history of cancer diagnosis themselves, more than 50 % had never brought question notes to physicians. Being under 40 years of age, male, employed, and in good health were significantly associated with never bringing question notes.

Conclusion: Those who had never brought question notes to physicians were high both overall and among those who had a cancer diagnosis.

Innovation: Nationwide survey data revealed that Japanese people are less proactive in bringing the notes prepared beforehand to the consultation.

Keywords: Bringing question notes; INFORM study 2020; Japan; Nationwide cross-sectional study.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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