Patient needs and self-care in cardio-oncology: questionnaire-based survey

Area of Science:

• Cardio-oncology
• Patient-centered care
• Chronic disease management

Background:

• Coexistence of cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing.
• Patient self-care perspectives in cardio-oncology are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify patient concerns and self-care needs in cardio-oncology.
• Understand how cancer treatment phase and age influence self-care priorities.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 72 patients with cancer and CVD.
• Patients allocated points to cancer vs. CVD concerns and ranked self-care domains.
• Analysis by cancer treatment status (active vs. completed) and age (<70 vs. ≥70 years).

Main Results:

• Cancer concerns were prioritized over CVD concerns (60 vs. 40 points).
• Patients undergoing active cancer treatment emphasized cancer more than those with completed treatment (80 vs. 50 points).
• Symptom management and medication were key self-care domains during active treatment; older age correlated with lower self-care interest.

Conclusions:

• Oncologic priorities generally outweigh cardiovascular ones, particularly during active cancer treatment.
• Age is a significant factor influencing self-care engagement in cardio-oncology.
• Development of phase- and age-sensitive self-care programs is crucial for cardio-oncology patients.