UNMET NEEDS AMONG BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY AND SUPPORTIVE CARE NEEDS SURVEY VALIDATION

Background: Identifying and addressing breast cancer (BC) patients' unmet needs (UN) are crucial due to their possible contribution to higher levels of morbidity, particularly in vulnerable underserved populations, such as Latinas with BC. Objective: This study aimed to (1) identify and describe the most frequently reported items of moderate-high UN among Mexican women with BC covered by public healthcare insurance; (2) analyze the differences in UN domains according to participants' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics; and (3) validate the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form-34 (SCNS-SF34). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 396 consecutive BC patients. A linguistically translated and culturally adapted version of the SCNS-SF34 for Mexican women with BC was completed by the participants. Results: The validation yielded a 32-item version of the SCNS with adequate psychometric properties. The Health System and Providers Information was the highest UN domain, followed by the psychological domain. Fears about cancer spreading (37.4%) and Concerns about the worries of those close to you (37.3%) were the most prevalent moderate-high UN. Sexuality was the only domain associated with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: By defining the most urgent needs of this group of patients, our results will enable the development of targeted support services and patient-centered care.

Automated summary

Identifying and addressing the unmet needs of breast cancer patients, especially in vulnerable populations like Latinas, is crucial. This study aimed to identify the most common unmet needs among Mexican women with breast cancer and validate the SCNS-SF34. The results showed that the Health System and Providers Information were the highest unmet needs domain, followed by psychological needs, with sexuality being the only domain associated with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.