Patients' Non-Medical and Organizational Needs during Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-08, Vol.17 (16), p.5841
• Main Authors: Osowiecka, Karolina, Sroda, Radoslaw, Saied, Arian, Szwiec, Marek, Mangold, Sarah, Osuch, Dominika, Nawrocki, Sergiusz, Rucinska, Monika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Education; Educational Status; Families & family life; Female; Friends; Health Services Needs and Demand; Higher education; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medicine; Middle Aged; Needs; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; Oncology; Patients; Poland; Questionnaires; Social interactions; Social services; Social Support; Social workers; Stress; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165841

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine non-medical and organizational needs among cancer patients during diagnosis and treatment. The study included 384 cancer patients treated in five oncological centers in Poland. A questionnaire designed for the study was used. Most of the patients received psychological support from their partner/family/friends (88%), to a lesser extent from a psychologist (21%) and priests (4%). Forty-three percent of patients received social support from their partner/family/friends and only 7% of respondents received support from a social worker. Most patients stated they would like to have a professional who would help them with their non-medical problems during the diagnostic process and cancer treatment. The youth, with a higher education level who were professionally active and living in cities seemed to be more aware of their needs. Improvements to the oncological system in Poland should focus on expanding patient access to professional support of non-medical needs.