Unmet psychosocial needs among cancer patients undergoing ambulatory care in Singapore

Abstract

The prevalence of unmet psychosocial needs among cancer patients in ambulatory care is generally high. Young patients with disease recently diagnosed at advanced stage will benefit from additional support.

Psychosocial concerns of cancer patients in Singapore

“…The only other study in Singapore examining in‐treatment cancer patients' psychosocial needs was a cross‐sectional one among outpatients, which revealed that information about the disease was the most prevalent need, and factors associated with high levels of unmet needs included ethnic minority, age below 60 years, advanced disease and a recent diagnosis . Because the aforementioned study used a different assessment tool, and looked at a different cohort of patients (undergoing treatment [stock] vs new to Hematology‐Oncology), direct comparisons were not possible to the present study; however, both studies seemed to converge on Emotional and Practical (financial) concerns being significant in Singapore cancer patients.…”

Attributing Variance in Supportive Care Needs during Cancer: Culture-Service, and Individual Differences, before Clinical Factors

“…[12] Second, two dissimilar Hong Kong Chinese samples, women with ESBC and older, mostly male CRC patients reported convergent SCN patterns [20]; likewise, dissimilar Japanese CRC and ESBC patients also show very similar SCNs patterns. [13] Third, we have shown that Chinese CRC groups differed in HSI and PSY needs, but not PCS, PDL or SEX needs: in contrast both Chinese CRC samples differed in four of five SCNs domains from Japanese CRC patients.…”

“…Cultural differences in attitudes and responses to cancer and treatment may also explain SCN variation between “east” and “west” [12], [19] as well as “minority” [18], [20] samples. Preference for sources of support and family coping may differ.…”

Changes and Predictors of Unmet Supportive Care Needs in Taiwanese Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

“…Health system and information needs were reported by 57% of 459 female patients with breast cancer in South Korea as unmet care needs (Hwang & Park, 2006). Among unmet care needs reported by 75% of 535 patients with breast, gynecologic, and colorectal cancer in Singapore, disease information needs were the most prevalent (62%), followed by financial (40%), social support (40%), psychological (27%), and physical (26%) needs (Ng, Verkooijen, Ooi, & Koh, 2011). Similarly, high levels of supportive care needs were found in Taiwanese women with suspected breast cancer before and after diagnosis, with the top needs being in the domains of healthcare services for diagnosis, follow-up and consultation, and disease-related information (Liao et al, 2007).…”