Rapid Fire Best of the Best Oral Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Patterns of mental health service utilisation in people with cancer compared with people without cancer: the Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing analysis (#312)

Huah Shin Ng 1 2 , Bogda Koczwara 1 3 , Lisa Beatty 4
  1. Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
  2. SA Pharmacy, Northern and Southern Adelaide Local Health Networks, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
  4. Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia

Aims: Mental disorders are frequently reported among cancer survivors, but little is known about the patterns and characteristics associated with mental healthcare utilisation in the Australian cancer population. We compared the patterns of mental health service utilisation and their perceived needs between people with and without cancer.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data of all respondents aged ≥25 years from the Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-21. Comparisons were made between the two groups (cancer versus non-cancer) using logistic regression models. 

Results: The study comprised 318 people with cancer (55% female) and 4628 people without cancer (54% female). Cancer survivors had a higher prevalence of reporting poor health (38% versus 16%) and mental distress (18% versus 14%) than people without cancer. There were no significant differences between people with and without cancer in the odds of consulting general practitioner, psychiatrist, and other health professionals for mental health, although people with cancer were significantly more likely to consult a psychologist than people without cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.64, 95%CI=1.05-2.48). While the odds of being hospitalised for physical health was significantly higher in cancer survivors than people without cancer (aOR=2.32, 95%CI=1.78-3.01), there was only a negligible number of people reported being hospitalised for mental health between the two groups. There were also no significant differences between the two groups in their perceived needs for mental health services. Several factors were associated with higher odds of accessing mental health services among people with cancer including age, marital status, and presence of a current mental condition.

Conclusions: Mental health service utilisation among cancer survivors was similar to that of the general population despite higher prevalence of reporting poor health status and mental distress. Further research to identify optimal approaches of mental health care delivery for cancer survivors are needed.