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A systematic review of unmet needs of newly diagnosed older cancer patients undergoing active cancer treatment

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to systematically review evidence with regard to answering the following questions: (1) What are the unmet care needs of older persons diagnosed with cancer who are undergoing active cancer treatment? (2) What are the predictors of unmet needs of older persons while undergoing active cancer treatment?

Methods

A systematic review of the literature published between January 1996 and December 2010 was completed. Manuscripts could be published in English, French, Dutch, or German searching the Medline, Embase, Psychinfo, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Library databases. The literature search was performed by two researchers with the assistance of a university librarian. Abstracts were reviewed by two reviewers for inclusion.

Results

Thirty studies were included. A significant proportion of newly-diagnosed patients undergoing cancer treatment had unmet needs, ranging from 15 to 93 %. The most common needs varied by study but included psychological needs, information needs, and needs in the physical domain. Most studies showed that the level of unmet needs was highest after diagnosis and start of treatment and decreased over time. Predictors of unmet needs included: younger age, female gender, depression, physical symptoms, marital status, treatment type, income, and education.

Conclusions

The level of unmet needs in newly diagnosed older cancer patients after the start of treatment is high, and the most common needs are psychological and information needs. More research is needed which would focus on the needs of older adults with comorbid conditions, and how these comorbid conditions influence the level of unmet needs.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a research grant from the Bertha Rosenstadt foundation, University of Toronto. The funding source had no role in the study. There was no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Suite 130, Toronto, ON, M5T1P8, Canada

    M. T. E. Puts, A. Papoutsis & A. E. Tourangeau

  2. Gerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto Libraries, Toronto, ON, Canada

    E. Springall

  3. Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada

    A. E. Tourangeau

Authors
  1. M. T. E. Puts
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  2. A. Papoutsis
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  3. E. Springall
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  4. A. E. Tourangeau
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Correspondence to M. T. E. Puts.

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Puts, M.T.E., Papoutsis, A., Springall, E. et al. A systematic review of unmet needs of newly diagnosed older cancer patients undergoing active cancer treatment. Support Care Cancer 20, 1377–1394 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1450-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1450-7

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