Holistic needs assessment for hospitalized patients with breast cancer: A prospective cross-sectional study

Although breast cancer survival rates have improved, routine admission-based holistic screening remains uncommon. A structured holistic needs assessment may help identify unmet supportive care needs and improve quality of life after diagnosis.

To assess holistic needs among hospitalized patients with breast cancer using the self-reported Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care-Taiwan version (SPARC-T).

In this cross-sectional study, hospitalized patients with breast cancer completed the SPARC-T questionnaire at admission. Scores exceeding predefined thresholds triggered referrals for psychiatric, social work, or discharge planning services. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the prevalence of holistic needs and their associated factor.

A total of 115 patients participated, most with stage I or II breast cancer. More than 10% reported scores above the referral threshold in at least one SPARC domain. Spiritual distress was the most common concern (10.43%). Logistic regression showed that patients with stage II (OR = 3.69, p = 0.02) and stage IV disease (OR = 11.99, p = 0.03) were more likely to experience distress than those with stage I disease. These findings highlight the importance of addressing patient's holistic concerns.

SPARC-T is a feasible tool for assessing holistic needs in hospitalized patients with breast cancer. When integrated with an automated referral system, it may facilitate early identification of patients requiring multidisciplinary support.

Incorporating holistic needs assessment into routine breast cancer care may enhance patient-centered evaluation and supportive care, promoting overall well-being.