[Supportive care needs in patients with incurable cancer: Results of an integrative data analysis]

Patients with incurable cancer face complex care demands that extend beyond medical treatment and give rise to diverse supportive care needs. A systematic assessment of these needs is essential for identifying gaps in care and informing appropriate interventions. Despite their relevance, such analyses are scarce in the German healthcare context, particularly those integrating multiple need dimensions and patient perspectives.

The study addressed the research question: "Which unmet supportive care needs do patients with incurable cancer experience in the context of their care?" Questionnaire data (N = 339) were collected by means of the German version of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34-G) and used to assess patients' oncological care. The instrument was analyzed descriptively. In addition, an open-ended question (n = 140) on perceived unmet needs was evaluated using qualitative content analysis. The open-ended question potentially provided information on aspects of care that are not captured by the standardized instrument, offering additional contextual insights regarding supportive care needs. Both data strands were integrated using a joint display within a convergent mixed methods approach.

Quantitative analysis showed a relatively low support need. Content analysis yielded six main categories: nothing missed, not related to the research question, interpersonal aspects with healthcare staff, information needs, patients' organizational needs, patient orientation in care. The synthesis revealed discordance in three dimensions (patient care and support needs, physical and daily living needs, and psychological needs), expansion in one (health system and information needs), and confirmation in one (sexuality needs).

The qualitative findings revealed a nuanced range of support needs, which were expressed only by a subset of responding patients. A substantial proportion reported that they do not miss any aspects in their care, indicating an overall low level of supportive care needs, consistent with the quantitative results. At the same time, discordance in patient care and support needs, physical and daily living needs, and psychological needs highlighted potential gaps in care that should be further investigated. Furthermore, an additional, differentiated need in the health system and information needs domain was identified, which is only partially captured by standardized measures.

Overall, the results indicate a generally low but differentiated need for supportive care among patients with incurable cancer. The discordances observed and the need for information expressed provide a starting point for adapting and further developing patient-centered interventions.