Journal Article

Unmet supportive care needs and associated factors among young adult cancer patients in Japan

Okamura, Masako, Fujimori, Maiko, Uchitomi, Yosuke, Sato, Ayako

2021

Overview

Background Young adult cancer patients often face unique challenges and have potential unmet needs. This study aimed (1) to describe unmet supportive care needs among young adults with cancer in Japan, and (2) to identify its associated factors. Methods In a cross-sectional web-based survey, 206 young adults with cancer were assessed for supportive care needs. Multiple regression analysis examined whether demographics, clinical variables and social support were associated with unmet supportive care needs. Results A total of 206 patients (180 female) with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD = 4.3, range: 22–39) participated. One hundred and fifty-eight participants (76.7%) reported at least one unmet supportive care needs. The top 20 unmet needs included 9 of the 10 psychological needs, 3 of the 5 physical and daily living needs, 8 of the 11 health system and information needs and 1 of the 5 sexuality needs. Multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived poorer PS, experience of change in work/school after a cancer diagnosis and poor social support were significantly associated with higher supportive care needs. The total score of supportive care needs was significantly associated with both psychological distress and QOL. Conclusions More than 70% of young adult cancer patients reported unmet supportive care needs and most of those were psychological needs. The findings suggest potential opportunities for intervention in addressing psychological needs rather than physical and information needs.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Age / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cancer / cancer burden and supportive therapy / Cancer patient / Cancer patients / Cancer Research / Cancer Survivors / Care and treatment / Chemotherapy / Cross-Sectional Studies / Demographic aspects / Demography / Female / Follow-Up Studies / Health aspects / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention / Health Services Needs and Demand / Humans / Japan - epidemiology / Likert scale / Male / Medical care / Medicine/Public Health / Middle Aged / Multiple regression analysis / Needs Assessment / Neoplasms - psychology / Neoplasms - therapy / Oncology / Patients / Prognosis / Quality of Life / Questionnaires / Regression analysis / Research Article / Sexuality / Social interactions / Social networks / Social Support / Sociodemographics / Socioeconomic Factors / Stress, Psychological - epidemiology / Stress, Psychological - psychology / Supportive care / Surgical Oncology / Surveys and Questionnaires / Survivor / Survivorship / Unmet needs / Validity / Young Adult / Young adults