Unmet Supportive Care Needs of Lung Cancer Survival Patients at Different Cancer Stages and Treatment Phases

This study examined the unmet supportive care needs of lung cancer patients across different cancer stages and treatment phases, as well as the factors associated with these unmet needs.

Data from 501 lung cancer patients at a cancer center in central Taiwan were analyzed to assess their unmet supportive care needs across dimensions such as health information, patient care, treatment, nutrition, psychosocial, and economic needs. Associations with sex, age, cancer stage, and treatment phase were investigated.

Compared with male patients, female patients exhibited fewer unmet health information needs (aOR=0.40; p=0.021). Older patients had greater patient care needs than younger patients did (aOR=3.08, p=0.026). Patients in the in-treatment (p<0.001) and follow-up (p=0.025) phases exhibited significantly lower needs for health information than did those in the newly diagnosed phase. Similarly, patients in the treatment (aOR=0.42, p=0.006), recurrence (aOR=0.24, p=0.043), and follow-up (aOR=0.12, p=0.007) phases exhibited significantly lower needs for patient care than did those in the newly diagnosed phase. Regarding treatment needs, patients in the treatment phase also demonstrated lower needs than did those in the newly diagnosed phase (aOR=0.12, p=0.004). Patients in the treatment phase had lower nutritional needs than did those in the newly diagnosed phase (aOR=0.54, p=0.043). However, psychosocial needs were greater during the treatment (aOR=2.75, p=0.004) and recurrence phases (aOR=7.61, p=0.001).

The unmet needs of lung cancer patients vary based on demographic characteristics and disease-related factors. Patients in the newly diagnosed phase have significantly higher unmet needs compared to other stages. Therefore, Healthcare professionals should provide appropriate and timely individualized care to address these needs.