Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients

IntroductionCancer patients experience a wide range of unmet supportive care needs, which may lead to dissatisfaction with the health care system and poor quality of life. The aims of this study were to assess unmet supportive care needs in five areas: informative needs, psycho-emotional needs, rela...

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Main Authors: Karolina Osowiecka, Marek Szwiec, Jacek J. Nowakowski, Marcin Kurowicki, Anna Dolińska, Anna Gwara, Eliza Działach, Jarosław Kołb-Sielecki, Weronika Radecka, Sergiusz Nawrocki, Monika Rucińska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1472026/full
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author Karolina Osowiecka
Marek Szwiec
Jacek J. Nowakowski
Marcin Kurowicki
Anna Dolińska
Anna Gwara
Eliza Działach
Jarosław Kołb-Sielecki
Weronika Radecka
Sergiusz Nawrocki
Monika Rucińska
author_facet Karolina Osowiecka
Marek Szwiec
Jacek J. Nowakowski
Marcin Kurowicki
Anna Dolińska
Anna Gwara
Eliza Działach
Jarosław Kołb-Sielecki
Weronika Radecka
Sergiusz Nawrocki
Monika Rucińska
author_sort Karolina Osowiecka
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionCancer patients experience a wide range of unmet supportive care needs, which may lead to dissatisfaction with the health care system and poor quality of life. The aims of this study were to assess unmet supportive care needs in five areas: informative needs, psycho-emotional needs, relational needs, material needs and needs related to assistance/care, and to identify groups of cancer patients expressing high rates of unmet needs.Materials and methodsThe multicenter study was carried out among 1,062 cancer patients between June 2022 and May 2023. The study was performed using the validated Polish version of Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (NEQ). The total and subtotal NEQ scores were calculated.ResultsThe mean total NEQ score was 0.44 ± 0.27. The highest subtotal NEQ scores were noted in the cases of informative needs and material needs. Predictive factors for a higher total NEQ score were younger age, living with a partner and a diagnosis of digestive system cancers or lung cancer.ConclusionCancer patients expressed some unmet supportive care needs, especially informative needs. Identification of the groups of patients with high rates of unmet supportive care needs will be useful in clinical practice. Younger patients, living with a partner and those suffering from digestive system or lung cancer seem to require special attention.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-102ee7d2cf8a4bf19fa4f8ec2d6deabe2025-08-20T03:49:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-05-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14720261472026Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patientsKarolina Osowiecka0Marek Szwiec1Jacek J. Nowakowski2Marcin Kurowicki3Anna Dolińska4Anna Gwara5Eliza Działach6Jarosław Kołb-Sielecki7Weronika Radecka8Sergiusz Nawrocki9Monika Rucińska10Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Surgery and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Góra, PolandDepartment of Botany and Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, PolandNU-MED Radiotherapy and Oncology Center in Elbląg, Elbląg, PolandPsychology Outpatient Clinic, University Hospital in Zielona Gora, Zielona Góra, PolandDepartment of Nursing, Institute of Health Science, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Góra, PolandDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, PolandDepartment of Oncology, The Center for Pulmonary Diseases in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Anatomy, University of Opole, Opole, Poland0Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland0Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, PolandIntroductionCancer patients experience a wide range of unmet supportive care needs, which may lead to dissatisfaction with the health care system and poor quality of life. The aims of this study were to assess unmet supportive care needs in five areas: informative needs, psycho-emotional needs, relational needs, material needs and needs related to assistance/care, and to identify groups of cancer patients expressing high rates of unmet needs.Materials and methodsThe multicenter study was carried out among 1,062 cancer patients between June 2022 and May 2023. The study was performed using the validated Polish version of Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (NEQ). The total and subtotal NEQ scores were calculated.ResultsThe mean total NEQ score was 0.44 ± 0.27. The highest subtotal NEQ scores were noted in the cases of informative needs and material needs. Predictive factors for a higher total NEQ score were younger age, living with a partner and a diagnosis of digestive system cancers or lung cancer.ConclusionCancer patients expressed some unmet supportive care needs, especially informative needs. Identification of the groups of patients with high rates of unmet supportive care needs will be useful in clinical practice. Younger patients, living with a partner and those suffering from digestive system or lung cancer seem to require special attention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1472026/fullcancerNEQunmet needssupportive caretotal and subtotal NEQ scores
spellingShingle Karolina Osowiecka
Marek Szwiec
Jacek J. Nowakowski
Marcin Kurowicki
Anna Dolińska
Anna Gwara
Eliza Działach
Jarosław Kołb-Sielecki
Weronika Radecka
Sergiusz Nawrocki
Monika Rucińska
Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients
Frontiers in Psychology
cancer
NEQ
unmet needs
supportive care
total and subtotal NEQ scores
title Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients
title_full Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients
title_fullStr Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients
title_full_unstemmed Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients
title_short Sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among Polish cancer patients
title_sort sociodemographic and clinical factors related to high rates of unmet supportive care needs among polish cancer patients
topic cancer
NEQ
unmet needs
supportive care
total and subtotal NEQ scores
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1472026/full
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