Multicentre prospective cohort study of unmet supportive care needs among patients with breast cancer throughout their cancer treatment trajectory in Penang: a PenBCNeeds Study protocol

Abstract

IntroductionProper assessment of unmet supportive care needs of patients with breast cancer and its influencing factors at different treatment intervals will improve the rehabilitation of patients with breast cancer. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of unmet supportive care needs, changes of needs over time and associated factors during the treatment period.Methods and analysisThis multicentre, prospective cohort study will be conducted in three governmental hospitals and one tertiary cancer institute in Penang, Malaysia. Adult women diagnosed with primary or recurrent tumour, node, metastases stage I–IV breast cancer based on pathological biopsy will be eligible for this study. At least 281 samples are required for this study. Participants will undergo follow-up at three time intervals: T1 at breast cancer diagnosis; T2 at 3 months after diagnosis and T3 at 6 months after diagnosis. Patients will complete a set of questionnaires at each time. The primary outcome of this study includes the changes in supportive care needs over three time points, followed by the secondary outcome examining patients’ characteristics, coping behaviours and positive psychological components as they affect changes in unmet supportive care needs over time.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received ethics approval from the Medical Research and Ethics Committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia (NMRR-19-268-45809 IIR) and the Human Research Ethics Committee of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM/JEPeM/17100443). The results of the prospective study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Supportive Care Needs Assessment for Cancer Survivors at a Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Middle East: Mending the Gap

“…Supportive care is defined as providing basic services that satisfy the psychological, spiritual, physical, informational and social needs of cancer patients throughout the continuum of care. These supportive care aspects can help with functional and emotional adjustment, symptoms and quality of life among cancer patients and improve cancer survival [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Cancer survivors are often under-prepared for what to expect post-treatment, and the end of treatment is usually a vulnerable time for patients as they transition away from the support of their healthcare providers.…”

Posttraumatic growth and its association with unmet supportive care needs and fear of cancer progression among head and neck cancer patients

“…It encompasses the need for information, psychological support, social support, care for physical well-being and daily life, and spiritual needs. Unmet supportive care needs in HNC patients are common and usually arises when there is a gap between expectations and reality [ 13 ]. Psychological needs are the most prevalent unmet needs, followed by pain management, worry about treatment results, support for anxiety, change in sexual relationship, and fear of death and dying [ 13 ].…”

“…Unmet supportive care needs in HNC patients are common and usually arises when there is a gap between expectations and reality [ 13 ]. Psychological needs are the most prevalent unmet needs, followed by pain management, worry about treatment results, support for anxiety, change in sexual relationship, and fear of death and dying [ 13 ]. Unmet supportive care needs negatively impacts quality of life, emotional and functional adjustment, as well as the survival of cancer patients [ 13 ].…”

“…Psychological needs are the most prevalent unmet needs, followed by pain management, worry about treatment results, support for anxiety, change in sexual relationship, and fear of death and dying [ 13 ]. Unmet supportive care needs negatively impacts quality of life, emotional and functional adjustment, as well as the survival of cancer patients [ 13 ]. Contrastingly, fulfillment of unmet needs, particularly informational needs among HNC patients contributed to less depression and anxiety, and improved health-related quality of life [ 14 ].…”

Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Prosocial Tendency in the Relation Between College Students’ Post-traumatic Growth and Entrepreneurial Intention in the Post-COVID-19 Era

“…Thereafter, they will be mentally stronger and demonstrate greater self-efficacy ( Robles-Bello et al, 2020 ; Kwak et al, 2021 ). In addition, PTG leads to positive changes in an individual’s cognition in many aspects, especially an increase in their inner strength ( Mohd Shariff et al, 2021 ). The change enables them to feel more confident in themselves and demonstrate a high sense of self-efficacy under stressful events ( Jia et al, 2017 ), thereby enhancing their entrepreneurial self-efficacy ( Udayanan, 2019 ).…”