Could Peer Support Programs Be a Good Resource for Managing the Unmet Needs of Cancer Patients?

Abstract

The number of cancer patients has been rapidly increasing, and while there have been wide variations, cancer survival rates also improved globally. Despite the improved survival rates, supportive care needs of cancer patients have been unmet in various domains. The current study aimed to investigate unmet needs that had potential to be managed by peer supports according to cancer trajectories. We used the comprehensive needs assessment tool in cancer (CNAT) and a modified CNAT to evaluate the unmet needs and peer support needs of cancer patients at the tertiary hospital of South Korea. Of the 402 participants, 335 (83.3%) needed peer support. For patients who had been diagnosed with cancer for more than 5 years, the highest proportion of peer support needs to unmet supportive care was reported in information domain (92.9%). Patients with advanced cancer reported peer support needs in the social/religious/spiritual (84.4%) and practical domains (81.1%). Most of stomach cancer patients needed peer supports to receive information (96.6%). The need for peer supports in the information domain was reported highest according to longer survival period and also according to advanced cancer stages. The proportion of peer support needs in unmet supportive care varied by cancer type. Further interventional studies are needed to investigate satisfaction with peer support in specific domains.

Can tele-nursing affect the supportive care needs of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy? A randomized controlled trial follow-up study

“…The results of the present study showed that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy have supportive care needs in different aspects, with some needs being higher than others. This result is inconsistent with the findings of other studies conducted in the world and Iran [26][27][28].…”

Empowerment in cancer patients: Does peer support make a difference? A systematic review

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A Questionnaire Survey on Adolescent and Young Adult Hiroba, a Peer Support System for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients at a Designated Cancer Center in Japan

“…15 The highest proportion of unmet peer support needs for cancer patients involved the information domain. 16 AYA Hiroba functions as a place where they can feel normal, even while they are in the hospital. Sharing feelings among patients of the same generation and coming into contact with various ways of thinking may be opportunities to face illness and treatment.…”