Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on Unmet Needs and Service Provision for Patients With Cancer and Caregivers in Türkiye: An Exploratory Study.

Abstract

Objective: Understanding the availability of various supportive care services for patients and caregivers is essential for informing national healthcare strategies and research priorities. Given the crucial role of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in delivering supportive care, this study examined their perspectives on assessing cancer-related unmet needs and differences in service provision for patients versus caregivers in Türkiye, a lower-middle-income country.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Turkish subsample of the International Psycho-Oncology Society Survivorship Online Survey who provided valid responses (n = 52). Participants reported on institutional practices related to the assessment and service provision for 13 kinds of unmet needs for patients and caregivers.

Results: Most institutions systematically assessed (≥ 50%) and provided services to address unmet needs (≥ 51.9%) for patients, whereas only few did so for caregivers (19.2%, ≤ 23.1%, respectively). Medical concerns for patients (78.8%) and psychosocial issues for caregivers (19.2%) were most frequently assessed, and services for emotional distress were most frequently provided for both patients and caregivers (82.7% and 23.1%, respectively). Sexuality/intimacy and financial concerns were least assessed and addressed (≤ 50.0% for patients, ≤ 15.4% for caregivers). Differences in assessments and service provision between patients and caregivers were significant across all unmet needs with large effect sizes (all p < 0.001, Cramer's V = 0.52 - 0.62).

Conclusions: Findings highlight both strengths and gaps in supportive care service provision and guide the development of integrated, comprehensive, and equitable programs for populations affected by cancer in Türkiye. These results also provide an initial foundation for future large-scale and longitudinal studies aimed at addressing the unmet needs of individuals affected by cancer.