Cancer Support Community, Research and Training Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Joanne S. Buzaglo , Melissa F Miller , Victoria Kennedy , Margaret Longacre , Mitch Golant , Patricia A. Robinson
Background: As survival rates increase among cancer patients, quality of life needs become more salient. Cancer Support Source (CSS) is a distress screening, referral and follow up program that uses a validated distress screening tool and referral algorithm to link cancer patients to resources tailored to their needs. The objective of this study was to describe psychosocial concerns and unmet needs at different times since cancer diagnosis. Methods: English speaking cancer survivors (n = 905) across 26 affiliates of a nationwide cancer support organization participated in the CSS program by first completing a screening tool, including a 4 item depression subscale. Participants rated the level of concern (0 to 4) about 15 items and identified the help they wanted for each item (talk with a member of your health care team and/or connect you with online resources). We used regression analysis, adjusting for age, to examine differences by time since diagnosis ( < 1 y; ≥ 1 y) in level of distress; type of concerns (rated ≥ 2); and items selected to talk with the health care team. Results: The sample was 78% female, 10% Latino, 9% Black, and median age 57 y. 41% were breast cancer survivors, 6% lung, and 6% colorectal. More than half were within 1 y of their diagnosis (61%, n = 507); 39% ≥ 1 y (n = 331). Those newly diagnosed ( < 1 y) had significantly higher levels of distress (p = 0.011); increased risk for depression (p = 0.007); and more likely to be concerned about changes in work, school, or home life; body image; feeling nervous or afraid; worry about the future; and making a treatment decision (p < 0.05). Among those who indicated that an item was a concern, newly diagnosed patients were significantly more likely to want to talk to their health care team about pain; financial worries; exercising; feeling lonely or isolated; feeling nervous or afraid; and worry about the future (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that patients are more distressed and more likely to want to talk about their psychosocial needs within the first year of a cancer diagnosis. Future research should evaluate efforts to provide tailored resources within the first year of a diagnosis when distress levels are highest.
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