Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): L.P. Liang, S.M. Dunn, A. Gorman, R. Stuart-Harris
Primary Institution: Westmead Hospital
Hypothesis
The study aims to identify priorities of psychosocial need among cancer patients currently receiving treatment.
Conclusion
The study found that family, emotional stress management, and access to information are the top three psychosocial needs for cancer patients.
Supporting Evidence
- 96% of patients ranked family, emotional stress, or getting information within their top three concerns.
- Older patients rated social life as more worrying compared to younger patients.
- Female patients reported more worry about dealing with emotional stress than male patients.
Takeaway
Cancer patients worry most about their family and managing stress, so it's important to help them in these areas.
Methodology
Patients completed a self-report ranking questionnaire listing eight major areas of psychosocial need.
Potential Biases
The self-reported nature of the questionnaire may introduce bias in the assessment of psychosocial needs.
Limitations
The study's findings may not apply to all cancer patients due to the heterogeneous sample.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 129 females and 59 males, with a median age of 52 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0005
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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