%0 Multicenter Study
%T Unmet supportive care needs among cancer patients: exploring cancer entity-specific needs and associated factors.
%A Springer F
%A Mehnert-Theuerkauf A
%A Gebhardt C
%A Stolzenburg JU
%A Briest S
%J J Cancer Res Clin Oncol
%V 150
%N 4
%D 2024 Apr 12
%M 38607426
%F 4.322
%R 10.1007/s00432-024-05715-4
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Recognizing unmet care needs among cancer patients is crucial for improving a person-centered and tailored approach to survivorship care. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of unmet supportive care needs, pinpointing entity-specific areas of burden, and to identify factors associated with unmet needs within a diverse sample of cancer patients.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>In this cross-sectional sub-study of a large multicenter study, 944 adult cancer patients reported supportive care needs via the well-validated SCNS. Most frequent diagnoses included breast (n = 276), prostate (n = 237), hematological (n = 90) and gynecological cancer (n = 74), which were analyzed for entity-specific care needs.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Across most cancer entities, health system and information, and psychological needs were most commonly reported, with fear of the cancer spreading and information regarding cancer control/diminishment ranking as the most prevalent individual concerns. Notable differences in entity-specific needs emerged for gynecological cancer patients, who exhibited more psychological (p = 0.007, OR = 2.01) and physical needs (p = 0.005, OR = 2.02), and prostate cancer patients, who showed higher sexuality needs (p < 0.001, OR = 2.95) but fewer psychological (p < 0.001, OR = 0.55), physical (p < 0.001, OR = 0.31) and patient care needs (p = 0.006, OR = 0.62). Non-distressed participants had fewer supportive care needs in each domain (all p < 0.001). Patients with functional impairments and female respondents reported increased unmet needs across most domains.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The high prevalence of patients feeling inadequately informed about their disease and care aspects, particularly among those with functional impairments, reflects a key challenge in the healthcare system. Specific interventions and improvements in patient-doctor communication are essential to address cancer entity-specific care needs.