Aims:
People with cancer and their caregivers have a broad range of supportive care needs. Understanding these needs is critical for focusing limited health resources and delivering client-centred care. This study aims to define supportive cancer care priorities in South Australia and identify potential differences across demographic factors and cancer characteristics.
Methods:
A comprehensive survey was constructed based on existing supportive care needs surveys, covering six domains: psychological, informational, practical & financial, service access, physical & daily living, and social. The survey also includes a measure of mental health (PHQ-4), and Cancer Council SA service awareness and utilisation.
Recruitment is ongoing with 71 responses so far, with a target of 200.
Results:
The top five unmet needs for a person with cancer were: understanding government service entitlements (36%), information about healthy living (34%), feeling fearful about the future (30%), information about cancer and treatment (28%), and information helpful to their family/partner (28%).
The top five unmet needs for a caregiver were: understanding government service entitlements (38%), information about preparing for/managing grief and loss (33%), distress (e.g., anxiety, depression, and stress) (29%), feeling fearful about the future (29%), and managing concerns about the wellbeing of those close to them (29%).
The number of needs (β=0.18, 95%CI 0.09–0.26, p<.001) and number of unaddressed needs (β=0.21, 95%CI 0.11–0.32, p<.001) were significantly associated with a higher score on the PHQ-4. Age (β=-0.31, 95%CI- 0.58–-0.05, p=.02) and being in a relationship were (β=-0.28, 95%CI- 0.51–-0.05, p=.02) significantly negatively associated with the number of needs.
Conclusions:
This is the first study to investigate unmet needs for both people with cancer and carers in South Australia. Preliminary results reveal priority supportive care needs that are not currently being adequately addressed. These findings will help to advance supportive care cancer planning in South Australia.