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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 1/2023

01-01-2023 | Psycho-oncology | Research

Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the unmet needs of cancer patients and family caregivers: global psycho-oncology investigation

Authors: Ashley Wei-Ting Wang, Youngmee Kim, Amanda Ting, Wendy Wing Tak Lam, Sylvie D. Lambert

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Purpose

This international study aimed to compare healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the unmet needs of their cancer patients with those of family caregivers and to investigate the degree to which patients’ age group moderates the associations.

Methods

Healthcare professionals involved in the care for cancer patients and their family caregivers were invited to participate in the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Survivorship Online Survey. A total of 397 healthcare professionals from 34 countries provided valid study data. The participants evaluated whether the unmet need was the same for all age groups of patients and the degree of their patients’ needs not being met per patients’ age group. They evaluated the same questions for family caregivers.

Results

Patients’ unmet needs in medical care were evaluated as greater than those of caregivers across all age groups. On the other hand, pediatric patients’ unmet needs for spiritual concerns, sexuality/intimacy, and insomnia/fatigue were evaluated as greater than those of caregivers, whereas adolescent and young adult patients’ unmet needs for symptom management were greater than those of caregivers. Patients’ other unmet needs were evaluated as comparable with those of caregivers regardless of age groups.

Conclusion

The findings provide insights how best healthcare providers stratify resources to address the unmet needs of patients and caregivers by the patients’ age. Development of systematic assessment of unmet needs and provision of interventions tailored for patients’ lifespan to address the unmet needs of cancer patients, and caregivers are warranted.
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Metadata
Title
Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the unmet needs of cancer patients and family caregivers: global psycho-oncology investigation
Authors
Ashley Wei-Ting Wang
Youngmee Kim
Amanda Ting
Wendy Wing Tak Lam
Sylvie D. Lambert
Publication date
01-01-2023
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07478-5

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