Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics identify groups of Italian cancer patients with high rates of unmet needs

Bonacchi, Andrea; Fazzini, Eleonora; Messina, Silvia; Muraca, Maria Grazia; Pacetti, Paola; Miceli, Stefania Di; Miccinesi, Guido

doi:10.1177/0300891618792458

Cited by 8 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Beyond that, not expressing needs at the beginning of rehabilitation was associated with lower quality of life and lower mental health at the end of rehabilitation. This finding is in line with previous studies about unmet needs 7,9 . However, these results do not allow for a causal interpretation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…This finding is in line with previous studies about unmet needs. 7,9 However, these results do not allow for a causal interpretation. Either not expressing needs in the admission interview might decrease quality of life, mental health or suffering from poor quality of life, or mental health might cause patients not to express needs.…”

Section: Prediction Of Not Expressing Needsmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…1,2 However, a relevant proportion reports different kinds of unmet needs, [3][4][5][6] and having unmet needs is associated with higher psychosocial distress and lower quality of life. [7][8][9] Unmet needs can better be addressed if patients express them; but, if such needs are not expressed, meeting them is difficult. Therefore, we assume that one possibility to improve treatment is a precise understanding of cancer patients' unexpressed needs to address them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research shows that cancer patients face various problems that reduce their mental health and quality of life 1,2 . However, a relevant proportion reports different kinds of unmet needs, 3‐6 and having unmet needs is associated with higher psychosocial distress and lower quality of life 7‐9 . Unmet needs can better be addressed if patients express them; but, if such needs are not expressed, meeting them is difficult.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and predictors of cancer patients' unexpressed needs in the admission interview of inpatient rehabilitation

et al. 2020

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Objective: The admission interview in oncological inpatient rehabilitation might be a good opportunity to identify cancer patients' needs present after acute treatment. However, a relevant number of patients may not express their needs. In this study, we examined (a) the proportion of cancer patients with unexpressed needs, (b) topics of unexpressed needs and reasons for not expressing needs, (c) correlations of not expressing needs with several patient characteristics, and (d) predictors of not expressing needs. Methods: We enrolled 449 patients with breast, prostate, and colon cancer at beginning and end of inpatient rehabilitation. We obtained self-reports about unexpressed needs and health-related variables (quality of life, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, and health literacy). We estimated frequencies and conducted correlation and ordinal logistic regression analyses. Results: A quarter of patients stated they had "rather not" or "not at all" expressed all relevant needs. Patients mostly omitted fear of cancer recurrence. Most frequent reasons for not expressing needs were being focused on physical consequences of cancer, concerns emerging only later, and not knowing about the possibility of talking about distress. Not expressing needs was associated with several health-related outcomes, for example, emotional functioning, adjustment disorder, fear of progression, and health literacy. Depression measured at the beginning of rehabilitation showed only small correlations and is therefore not sufficient to identify patients with unexpressed needs. Conclusions: A relevant proportion of cancer patients reported unexpressed needs in the admission interview. This was associated with decreased mental health. Therefore, it seems necessary to support patients in expressing needs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Prediction Of Not Expressing Needsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and predictors of cancer patients' unexpressed needs in the admission interview of inpatient rehabilitation

et al. 2020

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“…In the current study, the prevalence of male lung cancer patients’ needs was determined using the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (NEQ). The NEQ was previously used to evaluate the needs of patients with diverse cancer diagnoses [ 14 , 20 , 21 ]. The relationship between unmet needs and the level of distress and hope among patients was investigated [ 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is It Possible to Notice the Unmet Non-Medical Needs among Cancer Patients? Application of the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire in Men with Lung Cancer

et al. 2023

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Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. Lung cancer causes not only physical symptoms related to the disease itself and its treatment but also numerous mental, social and spiritual problems. The aim of the study was to assess non-medical needs among male lung cancer patients during oncological treatment. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 160 men (mean age 67 years) treated for lung cancer from June 2022 until November 2022 in 5 oncological centers in Poland. The Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (NEQ) was used. The NEQ explores five areas of patients’ needs: informative, connected with assistance/care, relational, material and psycho-emotional support. Results: All participants (except one) expressed some unmet non-medical needs (mean and median 11). Male lung cancer patients indicated informative needs most frequently. There were no significant differences between expressed unmet needs based on age, place of residence, professional activity or marital status. Conclusions: The NEQ seems to be a proper instrument to explore the non-medical needs of cancer patients. Adequate measures to address the unmet needs of lung cancer patients could contribute to an improved quality of life.

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Unmet non-medical needs of cancer patients in Poland: a quantitative and qualitative study

Osowiecka,

Szwiec,

Dolińska

et al. 2024

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Purpose Cancer itself and its treatment have a multifaceted impact on patients’ daily lives. The aim of the study was to determine unmet non-medical needs among Polish cancer patients. Methods Survey research using a 23-item Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (NEQ) was carried out among 1062 cancer patients from different regions of Poland. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Results The quantitative analysis showed that 48% of the NEQ items (11/23) were expressed as unmet needs by at least half of patients. Unmet information needs were indicated by patients most often: information about their diagnosis, exams, treatment, future condition, funding and economic support. Cancer patients would like to get more attention from medical staff. Unmet needs were most frequently expressed by respondents who were men, with a lower level of education, living in village, pensioners. Qualitative analysis showed that each need may be understood in a variety of different ways across the cohort. Some patients added comments that the completing NEQ helped them to notice their non-medical needs. Conclusion Polish cancer patients have some unmet non-medical needs, especially informative needs.

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Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics identify groups of Italian cancer patients with high rates of unmet needs

Abstract: Clinicians should consider that inpatients with a high distress and a low resilience trait sense of coherence represent a group of cancer patients to be investigated with particular attention regarding unmet needs.

Cited by 8 publications

References 39 publications

Prevalence and predictors of cancer patients' unexpressed needs in the admission interview of inpatient rehabilitation

Prevalence and predictors of cancer patients' unexpressed needs in the admission interview of inpatient rehabilitation

Is It Possible to Notice the Unmet Non-Medical Needs among Cancer Patients? Application of the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire in Men with Lung Cancer

Unmet non-medical needs of cancer patients in Poland: a quantitative and qualitative study

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