Survivorship and Beyond: Identifying Supportive Care Needs for Thoracic Surgery Cancer Survivor

November 2018 Vol 9, NO 11
Lauren Malloy, LMSW, MSW, OPN-CG
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Background: Thoracic surgeons remain involved with the long-term care of their cancer patients, usually in surveilling for recurrence. However, with an increasing survivor population, little is known on their other supportive needs.

Objectives: The goal of this quality improvement project was to characterize the prevalence and level of interest in supportive care needs among individuals with a history of lung or esophageal cancer surgery. Special attention was given to how needs changed over time throughout a patient’s care/survivorship.

Methods: This was a single-institution prospective study conducted at a major urban medical teaching institution. An outreach navigator offered a needs assessment survey to all outpatients followed in a long-term thoracic surgery clinic for lung and esophageal cancer surveillance. Patients were asked to rate their level of interest for help in the past month on a series of supportive care needs. The questionnaire consisted of 14 items measured on a scale of 1 to 5. The level of interest for help patients provide in relation to a given need, such as nutrition, were measured on an ordinal scale of 1 to 5 that correspond to “no interest” (= 1), “interest but solved” (= 2), “low interest” (= 3), “moderate interest” (= 4), and “high interest” (= 5). Patients were placed into subgroups based on the time (months) from their original cancer diagnosis: 0-12, 13-24, 25-60, and >60. The survey aimed to reduce respondent burden and be feasible for use in a fast-paced cancer care setting.

Results: 241 patients completed the survey. The top 3 needs included diagnosis/treatment (31%), exercise (30%), and fatigue (26%). Patients 0 to 12 months required the most care needs, listing diagnosis/treatment, exercise, and nutrition as top factors. As patients progress farther into survivorship, interest in supportive care needs diminished.

Conclusion: Lung and esophageal cancer survivors have unmet educational and emotional needs. Interest in supportive care services are highest in the first year following diagnosis; thus, interventions would have the greatest impact on overall well-being. Why needs decrease over time may be due to an earlier stage of disease with little to no treatment regimens, and thus patients are able to return to life as normal. Pain, depression, and anxiety can elevate the level of interest in supportive care needs and need for intervention. By addressing unspoken needs, patients may be more motivated to follow their treatment plan, feel empowered to self-advocate for their needs, and report higher patient satisfaction with the care team.

Table

Related Articles
“Preparing” for Cancer: The Power of PREhab and Psycho-Oncology
May 2023 Vol 14, No 5
In the fall of 2013, Loriana Hernandez-Aldama was working as a high-profile health reporter and TV news anchor. She was fit, healthy, and busy with her career and 2-year-old son when acute bone pain woke her up in the middle of the night.
Assessment of Side Effects (SEs) Impacting Quality of Life (QOL) in Patients (Pts) Undergoing Treatment (tx) for Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) in Clinical Practice: A Real-World (RW) Multicountry Survey
November 2022 Vol 13, No 11
To examine how SEs impacting QOL in pts with ABC are perceived.
Intracranial Activity of Tepotinib in Patients with MET Exon 14 (METex14) Skipping Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Enrolled in VISION
November 2022 Vol 13, No 11
To provide analysis of the intracranial activity of tepotinib in patients with METex14 skipping NSCLC with BM from the VISION study to aid oncology nurse navigators who manage this population of patients.
Last modified: August 10, 2023

Subscribe Today!

To sign up for our print publication or e-newsletter, please enter your contact information below.

I'd like to receive:

  • First Name *
    Last Name *
     
     
    Profession or Role
    Primary Specialty or Disease State
    Country