Mapping the Supportive Care Needs of Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer at a Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Middle East

Abstract

Assessing unmet needs is crucial to achieving quality care and patient satisfaction. Between September and December 2021, we assessed unmet supportive care needs in a consecutive sample of adult survivors of childhood cancer at KHCC. Two hundred and ninety-seven adult survivors of childhood cancer completed the study questionnaire. Overall needs score across all domains was (24.80$\pm$19.65), with the financial domain scoring the highest (30.39$\pm$31.95) and sexuality scoring the lowest (7.67$\pm$19.67). Using a multivariate linear regression model, female gender was independently associated with significantly high scores in all need domains (p$<$0.001), except for sexuality. Monthly income, comorbidities, socioeconomic challenges, time since diagnosis, and age at diagnosis have emerged as predictors of needs in many domains. Mean quality of life (QoL) was significantly and inversely associated with the mean score in multiple domains: psychological (p$<$0.001), sexuality (p=0.038), financial (p$<$0.001), and overall needs (p=0.004). Following a thematic analysis of qualitative data, educational difficulties and work-related challenges were identified as other unmet needs. Cancer experiences during childhood significantly influence supportive care needs in adulthood. There is a need for more tailored studies assessing different populations of cancer survivors and avoiding the “one size fits all” model when it comes to survivorship care.