Care needs and cancer-related post traumatic stress (CR-PTS) in patients with early-stage lung cancer three months after surgery
Journal
European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
Journal Volume
74
Start Page
102788
ISSN
1462-3889
Date Issued
2025-02
Author(s)
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the life-threatening diseases. The purposes of this study were to explore (1) the levels of unmet care needs, cancer-related post-traumatic stress (CR-PTS), and symptoms, and (2) factors related to unmet care needs in newly diagnosed early-stage lung cancer (LC) patients three months after surgery. A cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling was conducted in the thoracic outpatient clinic of a medical centre in Taiwan to recruit early-stage (I-IIIA) LC patients. Patients were assessed of their care needs (Supportive Care Needs Survey Screening Tool [SCNS-ST9]), CR-PTS (Impact of Events Scale Revised [IES-R], including intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal subscales), symptom severity, and background information. Of the 130 participants enrolled in this study, 62.3% of subjects reported to have overall unmet care needs and 28.5% were at risk of CR-PTS. The levels of unmet care needs are generally in moderate level, with health system and information needs being the highest. Mild to moderate CR-PTS levels were noted, with avoidance, intrusion, and hyperarousal in descending order. Logistic regression identified lower education, higher symptom severity, and higher CR-PTS as the most robust factors related to unmet care needs. The findings of this study highlight the importance of assessing care needs and psychological distress status of patients with early-stage LC. Developing appropriate interventions for this vulnerable patient population and examining their effects on improving care needs and psychological health are urgently needed.
Subjects
Cancer related post-traumatic stress (CR-PTS)
Care need
Early stage lung cancer
Performance status
Symptom
SDGs
Type
journal article