Breast Cancer Survivors' Self-Reported Needs and Preferences of Survivorship Care (original) (raw)
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Cancer, 2015
BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors may continue to experience psychosocial and physical needs related to their cancer experience for many years after treatment. The specification of these needs across cancer types and by survivor characteristics may lead to better prevention approaches and clinical responses. Mixed methods were used to examine responses to an open-ended question about current unmet needs from a survey of 2-, 5-, and 10-year cancer survivors. METHODS: Qualitative techniques were used to code themes of unmet needs from open-ended responses. These themes were then examined with quantitative techniques to describe the frequency of unmet needs across disease subgroups and demographic subgroups of survivors. RESULTS: There were 1514 responses to the open-ended question on unmet needs. Respondents ranged in age from 24 to 97 years and included proportionately more women, and 18% were minorities (black and Hispanic). Sixteen themes of unmet needs were identified. The number and type of unmet needs were not associated with the time since cancer treatment. Breast cancer survivors identified more unmet needs than other survivors. Male survivors and especially prostate cancer survivors identified personal control problems as current needs. Older cancer survivors identified fewer unmet needs on average than younger survivors. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of an open-ended question on unmet needs extends our understanding of how cancer survivors perceive problems related to cancer. How cancer-related needs change over time and differ by sex, race, and ethnicity and how problems with personal control become manifest are areas of inquiry requiring further research. Cancer 2015;121:623-30.
Unmet Care Needs in Breast Cancer Survivors: An Integrative Review
Journal of Holistic Nursing And Midwifery
Introduction: Understanding the unmet care needs of breast cancer survivors is one of the important aspects of healthcare service. Objective: This study aimed to identify the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: This research is an integrative review of evidence-based studies from five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar), which was conducted with no time limit until December 2020. Eligible articles were critically reviewed and scored using the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT). Results: A total of 28 articles were reviewed, including 7 qualitative, 19 quantitative, and 2 mixed methods studies. “Survival care needs” are referred to information needs, unmet communication needs, and management of disease symptoms and complications. The “unperceived support needs” are referred to six themes of self-change, hurting hope, uncertain faith, unmet occupational needs, impaired sexual function, and forgotten soci...
Survivors of breast cancer: patient perspectives on survivorship care planning
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2011
Introduction Survivors of breast cancer (SBC) constitute the largest population of cancer survivors. Needs for survivorship care may vary according to life stage and urban/rural place of residence. This study was conducted to better understand patient preferences for survivorship care plans (SCP). Methods Patients were identified through cancer agency electronic records and invited to participate by mail. Sessions were stratified by age and rural/urban place of residence. Participants were asked about preferences for content and format of SCP. Focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured format with interviews being taped, transcribed, cross-checked for accuracy, and analyzed independently, using constant comparative methods. Results Preferred SCP key elements included treatment summary, information on nutrition/exercise, expected side effects, signs and symptoms of recurrence, recommended follow-up schedule, information sent to primary care physician, and updates on changes. SBC emphasized preference for individualized content depending upon physical and psychosocial effects. No difference was observed between preferred SCP content among patients residing in urban/rural areas. Rural participants preferred electronic formats for ongoing information bulletins and communication with health care providers. Discussion/conclusions SBC from all age groups identify common preferences for key SCP elements with individualized content reflecting the wide variation observed among physical and psychosocial effects of breast cancer. Patterns of key psychological, social, and physical effects observed at different life stages may help SCP customization. Implications for cancer survivors Results provide direction for designing key content and format of SCP and also provide information about elements of care planning that should be customized to individual patient needs.
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018
Purpose Cancer patient survival rates are rapidly growing, and further data are needed on the impact of the disease beyond diagnosis and treatment phases. The aims of this study were to analyze the prevalence and sociodemographic and medical risk factors of clinical distress. Additionally, we also explore the relationship between unmet psychosocial needs and both clinical distress and subgroups of survival periods. Methods A cross-sectional study of 450 women who at least 1 month before had completed the primary treatment for breast cancer was conducted. The Brief Symptom Inventory 18 and the Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs measure were used. Results One in four women showed clinical distress related to unmet psychosocial needs. None of the sociodemographic and medical predictors was associated with clinical distress. Needs focused on the possibility of recurrence and its cognitiveemotional impact were the most frequent. Needs tended to decrease through periods of survival; however, there was a considerable level of unmet needs even among long-term survivors. Conclusions The findings highlight the relevance of extending psychosocial care beyond the breast cancer primary medical treatment. Early and regular screen for distress and unmet supportive needs permits to identify high-risk groups that likely benefit from targeted preventive interventions.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International
The unmet needs of breast cancer survivors are not being addressed as the number of survivors continues to climb. Aim and Objective: To determine the prevalence of post-treatment unmet needs and association between unmet needs of breast cancer survivors with selected demographic variables. A descriptive research study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital's oncology outpatient clinic and wards. Materials and Methods: Data was gathered in two sections: I – baseline data, and section II – Modified needs assessment questionnaire. 35 needs were categorized as physical, emotional, family, spiritual, practical routine, and sexual relationship needs, with ‘Yes’ scored as ‘1’ and ‘No’ scored as ‘0’. Data was collected for one month. Data tabulation and analysis was done. Results: The majority of BCS had a monthly income of Rs.3000- 10000/- (50.8%) and menopause had occurred in 54 (45%) of the women under the age of 45. Majority 65 (78%) did not have health insurance, whereas 42 (35%...
Oncology Nursing Forum, 2010
Setting: A community cancer center in the southeastern United States partnering with a local college of nursing faculty. Sample: Convenience sample of 307 adult cancer survivors. Methods: Voluntary completion of a modified survey of needs. Main Research Variables: Cancer survivor needs and distress according to five subscales (physical effects, social issues, emotional aspects, spiritual issues, and other issues), age, and gender.