Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada
<i>Purpose:</i> The purpose of this study is to describe the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and examine whether sociodemographic factors and health care providers accessed are associated with needs being met. <i>Methods</i>: All Nova Scotia survivors meeting specific...
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doaj-3fe2ba23bfb54c9b8d772f59c10ffbeb2021-09-20T10:09:53ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292021-11-01284132510.3390/curroncol28010004Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, CanadaSoleil Chahine0Gordon Walsh1Robin Urquhart2Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaNova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9, CanadaNova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9, Canada<i>Purpose:</i> The purpose of this study is to describe the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and examine whether sociodemographic factors and health care providers accessed are associated with needs being met. <i>Methods</i>: All Nova Scotia survivors meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria are identified from the Nova Scotia Cancer Registry and sent an 83-item survey to assess psychosocial concerns and whether and how their needs were met. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and Chi-square analyses are used to examine associations between sociodemographic and provider factors and outcomes. <i>Results</i>: Anxiety and fear of recurrence, depression, and changes in sexual intimacy are major areas of concern for survivors. Various sociodemographic factors, such as immigration status, education, employment, and internet use, are associated with reported psychosocial health and having one’s needs met. Having both a specialist and primary care provider in charge of follow-up care is associated with a significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) higher degree of psychosocial and informational needs met compared to only one physician or no follow-up physician in charge. Accessing a patient navigator also is significantly associated with a higher degree of needs met. <i>Conclusions</i>: Our study identifies the most prevalent psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and the factors associated with having a higher degree of needs met, including certain sociodemographic factors, follow-up care by both a primary care practitioner and specialist, and accessing a patient navigator.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/1/4survivorshipcanceroncologypatient navigationpsycho-oncologypsychosocial oncology |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Soleil Chahine Gordon Walsh Robin Urquhart |
spellingShingle |
Soleil Chahine Gordon Walsh Robin Urquhart Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada Current Oncology survivorship cancer oncology patient navigation psycho-oncology psychosocial oncology |
author_facet |
Soleil Chahine Gordon Walsh Robin Urquhart |
author_sort |
Soleil Chahine |
title |
Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_short |
Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_full |
Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Factors Associated with Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada |
title_sort |
factors associated with meeting the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors in nova scotia, canada |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Current Oncology |
issn |
1198-0052 1718-7729 |
publishDate |
2021-11-01 |
description |
<i>Purpose:</i> The purpose of this study is to describe the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and examine whether sociodemographic factors and health care providers accessed are associated with needs being met. <i>Methods</i>: All Nova Scotia survivors meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria are identified from the Nova Scotia Cancer Registry and sent an 83-item survey to assess psychosocial concerns and whether and how their needs were met. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and Chi-square analyses are used to examine associations between sociodemographic and provider factors and outcomes. <i>Results</i>: Anxiety and fear of recurrence, depression, and changes in sexual intimacy are major areas of concern for survivors. Various sociodemographic factors, such as immigration status, education, employment, and internet use, are associated with reported psychosocial health and having one’s needs met. Having both a specialist and primary care provider in charge of follow-up care is associated with a significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) higher degree of psychosocial and informational needs met compared to only one physician or no follow-up physician in charge. Accessing a patient navigator also is significantly associated with a higher degree of needs met. <i>Conclusions</i>: Our study identifies the most prevalent psychosocial needs of cancer survivors and the factors associated with having a higher degree of needs met, including certain sociodemographic factors, follow-up care by both a primary care practitioner and specialist, and accessing a patient navigator. |
topic |
survivorship cancer oncology patient navigation psycho-oncology psychosocial oncology |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/1/4 |
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