Identifying supportive care needs of women with ovarian cancer

Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer may experience many shortterm and long-term effects from cancer and its treatment. Cancer has more than a physical impact, yet there is a lack of information about the types of needs these women have and whether they want help in meeting their needs. The main purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to identify the supportive care needs (physical, emotional, social, informational, spiritual, psychological and practical) of women with ovarian cancer who attended a comprehensive, outpatient cancer centre. A further purpose was to determine if women wanted assistance in meeting those needs. A total of 50 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer participated in this study by completing a self-report questionnaire (The Supportive Care Needs Survey). The data indicated that a range of supportive care needs remained unmet for this patient group. Eight of the top 10 most frequently reported needs were psychosocial, such as fears about the cancer returning or spreading. The women also expressed a range of difficulty in managing their needs. However, despite this reality, significant numbers of women indicated they did not wish to have assistance from the clinic staff with some needs. Suggestions for practice and future research are offered to assist oncology nurses in providing care to these women.