Healthcare professionals' perspectives on the unmet needs of cancer patients and family caregivers: global psycho-oncology investigation

Purpose This international study aimed to compare healthcare professionals' perspectives on the unmet needs of their cancer patients with those of family caregivers and to investigate the degree to which patients' age group moderates the associations. Methods Healthcare professionals involved in the care for cancer patients and their family caregivers were invited to participate in the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Survivorship Online Survey. A total of 397 healthcare professionals from 34 countries provided valid study data. The participants evaluated whether the unmet need was the same for all age groups of patients and the degree of their patients' needs not being met per patients' age group. They evaluated the same questions for family caregivers. Results Patients' unmet needs in medical care were evaluated as greater than those of caregivers across all age groups. On the other hand, pediatric patients' unmet needs for spiritual concerns, sexuality/intimacy, and insomnia/fatigue were evaluated as greater than those of caregivers, whereas adolescent and young adult patients' unmet needs for symptom management were greater than those of caregivers. Patients' other unmet needs were evaluated as comparable with those of caregivers regardless of age groups. Conclusion The findings provide insights how best healthcare providers stratify resources to address the unmet needs of patients and caregivers by the patients' age. Development of systematic assessment of unmet needs and provision of interventions tailored for patients' lifespan to address the unmet needs of cancer patients, and caregivers are warranted.

Automated summary

The purpose of this international study was to compare the perspectives of healthcare professionals and family caregivers on the unmet needs of cancer patients, and to examine the moderating effect of patients' age group. The results showed that patients had greater unmet needs in medical care compared to caregivers across all age groups. However, pediatric patients had greater unmet needs in spiritual concerns, sexuality/intimacy, and insomnia/fatigue compared to caregivers, while adolescent and young adult patients had greater unmet needs in symptom management. The other unmet needs of patients were similar to those of caregivers regardless of age groups.