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Social Needs in Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review and Future Directions
Tess Thompson1, Meredith Doherty2, Julie Berrett-Abebe3
1School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 325 Pittsboro St., Campus Chapel Hill, Box 3550, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. tess.thompson@unc.edu.
Current Oncology Reports
|May 5, 2025
Summary
Unmet social needs like financial toxicity impact cancer survivors
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Social needs are critical factors affecting cancer survivors' well-being.
- Financial toxicity is a prevalent issue, impacting quality of life and care adherence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the prevalence and consequences of unmet social needs in U.S. cancer survivors.
- To identify screening tools and interventions for these needs.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review of six databases.
- Inclusion of peer-reviewed articles with empirical data from U.S. adult cancer survivors.
- Focus on modifiable social needs: food insecurity, financial hardship, housing, transportation, etc.
Main Results:
- 189 studies were included, mostly quantitative and cross-sectional.
- Financial toxicity was the most studied need, assessed by the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST).
- Unmet social needs negatively correlate with quality of life, mental health, and treatment adherence.
Conclusions:
- Financial interventions are crucial for cancer patients.
- Further research is needed to fully understand and address the impact of diverse social needs on cancer survivors' outcomes.
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