Symptoms, distress, finances, social support, resource utilization, and unmet care needs of patients with gynecological cancer
Journal
European Journal of Oncology Nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
Journal Volume
72
Start Page
102686
ISSN
1462-3889
Date Issued
2024-10
Author(s)
Abstract
This study explored the unmet care needs of gynecological cancer patients, including overall and subdomain needs (i.e., physical and daily living needs, psychological and emotional needs, care and support needs, and health-system and information needs), and related factors. In this cross-sectional study, gynecological cancer patients treated at a medical center in northern Taiwan were recruited. Data on demographics, symptoms, distress, finances, social support, resource utilization, and care needs were collected. Spearman's correlation and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for analysis. This study of 118 cancer patients found that 73% had unmet psychological and emotional needs, followed by 54% with unmet health system and information needs. The most common physical symptoms were insomnia, fatigue, and pain, with 51.7% experiencing moderate or high levels of distress. Overall, the patients received considerable social support, both instrumental and emotional, primarily through medical information booklets (39.0%), cancer information websites (28.8%), and rehabilitative resources (20.3%). Factors associated with unmet care needs included younger age, non-ovarian cancer, symptoms (pain, fatigue, appetite loss, insomnia, dyspnea, nausea, and vomiting), distress, finances, social support, and the use of cancer information websites. Psychological and emotional unmet needs is prevalent among patients with gynecological cancer; psychological support is crucial. Younger patients and those with non-ovarian cancer had more unmet care needs. These needs are linked to severe symptoms, distress, financial difficulties, limited social support, and low use of cancer information websites. Enhancing support for this population through targeted interventions is necessary.
Subjects
Distress
Finances
Gynecological cancer
Social resource utilization
Social support
Symptom
Unmet care need
SDGs
Type
journal article