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The significant unmet needs of cancer patients: probing psychosocial concerns.

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The significant unmet needs of cancer patients: probing psychosocial concerns. / Soothill, Keith L.; Morris, Sara; Harman, J. et al.
In: Supportive Care in Cancer, Vol. 9, No. 8, 11.2001, p. 597-605.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Soothill KL, Morris S, Harman J, Francis BJ, Thomas C, McIllmurray MB. The significant unmet needs of cancer patients: probing psychosocial concerns. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2001 Nov;9(8):597-605. doi: 10.1007/s005200100278

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@article{0bf7954506ff4b26b35055fcaa8ac68d,
title = "The significant unmet needs of cancer patients: probing psychosocial concerns.",
abstract = "'Significant unmet needs' are those needs that patients identify as both important and unsatisfied. In this article we ask whether the overall needs of cancer patients are actually being met. We believe that the range of unmet need, and the kinds of patients who are more likely to claim unmet need, should be carefully identified. The needs responses of a series of 295 cancer patients in a cross-sectional survey were analysed. The majority expressed the opinion that information and good relationships with health care professionals were important, and few expressed dissatisfaction with these aspects of need. Similarly, needs items about support from family and friends were largely rated as important and satisfied. For a sizeable minority of patients, items of significant unmet need cluster around aspects of managing daily life, emotions, and social identity. The distribution of significant unmet needs is not random but is more likely to be experienced by patients who are younger, have a long-standing illness or disability, do not own/have use of a car, and/or have no religious faith. Furthermore, significant unmet needs relate to patients' ability to talk freely to a carer about the cancer, the degree to which the cancer interferes with social activities, and whether financial difficulties are experienced. Most of the significant unmet need is beyond the remit of services primarily designed for the treatment of disease. We consider whether multidisciplinary cancer teams can be expected to deal with all aspects of the cancer experience.",
keywords = "Cancer, Patients, Psychosocial needs, Health services",
author = "Soothill, {Keith L.} and Sara Morris and J. Harman and Francis, {Brian J.} and Carol Thomas and McIllmurray, {Malcolm B.}",
year = "2001",
month = nov,
doi = "10.1007/s005200100278",
language = "English",
volume = "9",
pages = "597--605",
journal = "Supportive Care in Cancer",
issn = "0941-4355",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
number = "8",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The significant unmet needs of cancer patients

T2 - probing psychosocial concerns.

AU - Soothill, Keith L.

AU - Morris, Sara

AU - Harman, J.

AU - Francis, Brian J.

AU - Thomas, Carol

AU - McIllmurray, Malcolm B.

PY - 2001/11

Y1 - 2001/11

N2 - 'Significant unmet needs' are those needs that patients identify as both important and unsatisfied. In this article we ask whether the overall needs of cancer patients are actually being met. We believe that the range of unmet need, and the kinds of patients who are more likely to claim unmet need, should be carefully identified. The needs responses of a series of 295 cancer patients in a cross-sectional survey were analysed. The majority expressed the opinion that information and good relationships with health care professionals were important, and few expressed dissatisfaction with these aspects of need. Similarly, needs items about support from family and friends were largely rated as important and satisfied. For a sizeable minority of patients, items of significant unmet need cluster around aspects of managing daily life, emotions, and social identity. The distribution of significant unmet needs is not random but is more likely to be experienced by patients who are younger, have a long-standing illness or disability, do not own/have use of a car, and/or have no religious faith. Furthermore, significant unmet needs relate to patients' ability to talk freely to a carer about the cancer, the degree to which the cancer interferes with social activities, and whether financial difficulties are experienced. Most of the significant unmet need is beyond the remit of services primarily designed for the treatment of disease. We consider whether multidisciplinary cancer teams can be expected to deal with all aspects of the cancer experience.

AB - 'Significant unmet needs' are those needs that patients identify as both important and unsatisfied. In this article we ask whether the overall needs of cancer patients are actually being met. We believe that the range of unmet need, and the kinds of patients who are more likely to claim unmet need, should be carefully identified. The needs responses of a series of 295 cancer patients in a cross-sectional survey were analysed. The majority expressed the opinion that information and good relationships with health care professionals were important, and few expressed dissatisfaction with these aspects of need. Similarly, needs items about support from family and friends were largely rated as important and satisfied. For a sizeable minority of patients, items of significant unmet need cluster around aspects of managing daily life, emotions, and social identity. The distribution of significant unmet needs is not random but is more likely to be experienced by patients who are younger, have a long-standing illness or disability, do not own/have use of a car, and/or have no religious faith. Furthermore, significant unmet needs relate to patients' ability to talk freely to a carer about the cancer, the degree to which the cancer interferes with social activities, and whether financial difficulties are experienced. Most of the significant unmet need is beyond the remit of services primarily designed for the treatment of disease. We consider whether multidisciplinary cancer teams can be expected to deal with all aspects of the cancer experience.

KW - Cancer

KW - Patients

KW - Psychosocial needs

KW - Health services

U2 - 10.1007/s005200100278

DO - 10.1007/s005200100278

M3 - Journal article

VL - 9

SP - 597

EP - 605

JO - Supportive Care in Cancer

JF - Supportive Care in Cancer

SN - 0941-4355

IS - 8

ER -