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Needs assessment of cancer survivors in Connecticut

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Journal of Cancer Survivorship Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

There are knowledge gaps regarding the needs of cancer survivors in Connecticut and their utilization of supportive services.

Methods

A convenience sample of cancer survivors residing in Connecticut were invited to complete a self-administered (print or online) needs assessment (English or Spanish). Participants identified commonly occurring problems and completed a modified version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form (SNCS-SF34) assessing needs across five domains (psychosocial, health systems/information, physical/daily living, patient care /support, and sexuality).

Results

The majority of the 1,516 cancer survivors (76.4%) were women, 47.5% had completed high school or some college, 66.1% were diagnosed ≤5 years ago, and 87.7% were non-Hispanic white. The breast was the most common site (47.6%), followed by the prostate, colorectal, lung, and melanoma. With multivariate adjustment, need on the SCNS-SF34 was greatest among women, younger survivors, those diagnosed within the past year, those not free of cancer, and Hispanics/Latinos. We also observed some differences by insurance and education status. In addition, we assessed the prevalence of individual problems, with the most common being weight gain/loss, memory changes, paying for care, communication, and not being told about services.

Conclusions

Overall and domain specific needs in this population of cancer survivors were relatively low, although participants reported a wide range of problems. Greater need was identified among cancer survivors who were female, younger, Hispanic/Latino, and recently diagnosed.

Implications for cancer survivors

These findings can be utilized to target interventions and promote access to available resources for Connecticut cancer survivors.

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Acknowledgments

The statewide needs assessment of cancer survivors in Connecticut was commissioned by the Connecticut Department of Public Health based on recommendations from the Connecticut Cancer Partnership's Survivorship Committee. MATRIX Public Health Solutions, Inc. was contracted to market, design, and distribute the needs assessment survey and analyze the data.

Funding sources

LMF was supported by grant T32 NR008346 from the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University School of Nursing, P.O. Box 9740, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA

    M. Tish Knobf & Leah M. Ferrucci

  2. Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    M. Tish Knobf, Brenda Cartmel, Beth A. Jones & Linda Mowad

  3. Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA

    Leah M. Ferrucci, Brenda Cartmel & Beth A. Jones

  4. MATRIX Public Health Solutions, Inc., New Haven, CT, USA

    Denise Stevens

  5. Office of Managed Care Ombudsman, State of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, USA

    Maureen Smith

  6. Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA

    Andrew Salner

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  1. M. Tish Knobf
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Correspondence to M. Tish Knobf.

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Tish Knobf, M., Ferrucci, L.M., Cartmel, B. et al. Needs assessment of cancer survivors in Connecticut. J Cancer Surviv 6, 1–10 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0198-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0198-2

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