abstract: A systematic review of unmet needs of newly diagnosed older cancer patients undergoing active cancer treatment.

 Blogger's Note: the abstract does not indicate the determinate of 'older'

 Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study is to systematically review evidence with regard to answering the following questions: (1) What are the unmet care needs of older persons diagnosed with cancer who are undergoing active cancer treatment? (2) What are the predictors of unmet needs of older persons while undergoing active cancer treatment?

METHODS:

A systematic review of the literature published between January 1996 and December 2010 was completed. Manuscripts could be published in English, French, Dutch, or German searching the Medline, Embase, Psychinfo, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Library databases.

RESULTS:

Thirty studies were included. A significant proportion of newly-diagnosed patients undergoing cancer treatment had unmet needs, ranging from 15 to 93 %. The most common needs varied by study but included psychological needs, information needs, and needs in the physical domain. Most studies showed that the level of unmet needs was highest after diagnosis and start of treatment and decreased over time. Predictors of unmet needs included: younger age, female gender, depression, physical symptoms, marital status, treatment type, income, and education.

CONCLUSIONS:

The level of unmet needs in newly diagnosed older cancer patients after the start of treatment is high, and the most common needs are psychological and information needs. More research is needed which would focus on the needs of older adults with comorbid conditions, and how these comorbid conditions influence the level of unmet needs.

abstract: (review of the literature) Screening for Distress and Unmet Needs in Patients With Cancer: Review and Recommendations

Screening for Distress and Unmet Needs in Patients With Cancer: Review and Recommendations

"....Many distress screening and unmet need tools have been subject to preliminary validation, but few have been compared head to head in independent centers and in different stages of cancer...."

Partners of long-term gynaecologic cancer survivors: Psychiatric morbidity, psychosexual outcomes and supportive care needs (abstract)

Objective

To describe long-term psychological morbidity, unmet supportive care needs, positive changes, sexual outcomes and relationship satisfaction in partners of gynaecologic cancer survivors, as compared with respective survivors.

Method

Self-report measures were administered to a cross-sectional sample of 68 partners recruited via patient survivors.

Conclusion

The majority of partners reported excellent sexual outcomes and little perceived change since the survivors' diagnosis. The association between unmet needs and psychological morbidity suggests a useful target for further intervention. Despite methodological limitations, these data are novel and present a starting point for further investigation to improve outcomes for survivors and partners.