Supportive care needs of patients following treatment for colorectal cancer: risk factors for unmet needs and the association between unmet needs and health-related quality of life—results from the ColoREctal Wellbeing (CREW) study

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate unmet needs of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) at the end of treatment and whether unmet needs improve over time. Identify predictors of need following treatment and whether unmet need is associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL).MethodsAs part of the UK ColoREctal Wellbeing (CREW) cohort study, patients treated for CRC completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form-34 (SCNS SF-34) 15 and 24 months following surgery, along with questionnaires measuring HRQoL, wellbeing, life events, social support, and confidence to manage their cancer before surgery, 3, 9, 15, and 24 months post-surgery.ResultsThe SCNS SF-34 was completed by 526 patients at 15 months and 510 patients at 24 months. About one-quarter of patients had at least one moderate or severe unmet need at both time points. Psychological and physical unmet needs were the most common and did not improve over time. Over 60% of patients who reported 5 or more moderate or severe unmet needs at 15 months experienced the same level of unmet need at 24 months. HRQoL at the beginning of treatment predicted unmet needs at the end of treatment. Unmet needs, specifically physical, psychological, and health system and information needs, were associated with poorer health and HRQoL at the end of treatment.ConclusionsUnmet needs persist over time and are associated with HRQoL. Evaluation of HRQoL at the start of treatment would help inform the identification of vulnerable patients. Assessment and care planning in response to unmet needs should be integrated into person-centred care.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsEarly identification of CRC patients at risk of unmet needs will help infrom personalised survivorship care plans. The implementation of personalised and tailored services are likely to confer HRQoL gains.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11764-019-00805-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Influence of Social Family Support on Depression, Anxiety and Quality of Life Among Women with Breast Cancer: Literature Review

“…17 The results of research in this literature review also describe patients with breast cancer who experience problems with anxiety and depression, as well as the physical and psychological burdens they receive from the treatment they are given and the presence of a sense of concern for their future health and the fate of their close family. 18 This has an impact on the deteriorating quality of life. Women with breast cancer tend to have mental health problems with a high prevalence such as depression and anxiety.…”

Is screening for psychosocial risk factors associated with mental health care in older adults with cancer undergoing surgery?

“…Poor social support also was associated with the receipt of mental health services postoperatively. Social support often is a vital component of successful recovery from surgery . Patients recovering from surgery may need assistance with medication adherence, dressing changes, completion of ADLs and iADLs, communication with the health care team, and transportation to follow‐up appointments.…”

Care Needs for Organ Transplant Recipients Scale: Development and psychometric testing

“…Assessing unmet care needs can provide specific information to present patients' physical, psychological and social needs and also let health care providers know what care resources should be offered to the patients (Li et al, 2013). Recently, many assessment tools are available to evaluate care needs of patients in other populations (e.g., patients with cancer) (Fang, Cheng, & Lin, 2018; Sodergren et al, 2019). The commonly reported domains of care needs include psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, patient care and support, and sexual needs (Li et al, 2013; Sodergren et al, 2019).…”

“…Recently, many assessment tools are available to evaluate care needs of patients in other populations (e.g., patients with cancer) (Fang, Cheng, & Lin, 2018; Sodergren et al, 2019). The commonly reported domains of care needs include psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, patient care and support, and sexual needs (Li et al, 2013; Sodergren et al, 2019). Although renal transplantation constitutes the largest group of solid organ transplant (Tsai & Yu, 2016), no reliable instrument is available to assess renal transplant recipients' care needs until now.…”