Supportive care needs of patients after breast cancer surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Supporative care includes detection and providing necessary interventions to prevent, control or alleviate complications and side effects in order to improve the comfort and quality of life of cancer patients to meet their needs. The aim of this research was to determine the level of unsatisfied needs of patients after breast cancer surgery and also to determine connection with social demographic characteristics and risk factors. Material and methods: This study was conducted as a cros-ssectional study, on a sample of 40 patients that have undergone surgical breast cancer treatment at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina in Sremska Kamenica during 2019. The instrument used in this research was Short form of the Supportive Care Needs Survey questionnaire (SCNS-SF34). It was used to determine the level and type of healthcare assistance needed by the patients. The questionnaire consisted of 34 questions that are divided through five domains. The higher score (min=1, max=5) indicates a higher need for support. Results: The average age of the patients was 61.5±12.8 years. The highest level of required healthcare support was determined in the domain of the Healthcare system and information, while the domain with lowest value was Sexuality. Statistically significant difference was discovered between the values of the Healthcare system and information and the educational level (p=0.03), which indicates that patients with a higher level of education have a bigger level of needs from this domain. Conclusion: This study provides information about patient needs for supportive care in daily life activities, after breast cancer surgery. The results of the research clearly indicate that patients after breast cancer surgery face unmet needs in all domains except sexuality.