Unmet Supportive Care Needs in Cancer Patients in Southern Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Amenu Asaye, Aynalem Amdehiwot, Borie Yacob Abraham, Jemebere Wegene, Molla Ezedin, Samuel Beniyam, Israel Eskinder, Yeheyis Tomas, Assefa Dawit Getachew, Gebrie Meless
Primary Institution: Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
Hypothesis
What are the prevalence and associated factors of unmet physical and psychological supportive care needs among adult cancer patients in Southern Ethiopia?
Conclusion
Nearly half of the study participants had unmet physical supportive care needs, while more than two-thirds had unmet psychological supportive care needs.
Supporting Evidence
- 47.3% of participants reported unmet physical supportive care needs.
- 71.1% of participants reported unmet psychological supportive care needs.
- Rural residence was associated with higher unmet physical supportive care needs.
- Late-stage cancer was linked to increased unmet physical supportive care needs.
- Coexisting illnesses were associated with both unmet physical and psychological supportive care needs.
Takeaway
Many cancer patients in Southern Ethiopia need more help with their physical and emotional care, especially those living in rural areas or with advanced cancer.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using simple random sampling was conducted among 321 cancer patients at an oncology center.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from self-reported data and the exclusion of critically ill patients.
Limitations
The study may not represent all cancer patients in Ethiopia due to its specific location and sampling method.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 45 years, with 62.1% female and 60.5% from urban areas.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI (1.27 to 5.83)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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