Cancer causes eventful deterioration of an individual's health. The latest data on cancer show a significant rise on new cases and deaths on cancer. Patients face the risk of enduring disability, incapacity to perform daily activities, and psychosocial problems that can result from its sequelae.
OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the demographic, clinical profile and psychosocial needs of cancer patients and the association of demographic and clinical profile with psychosocial needs.
METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional survey was utilized in this study which involved 116 cancer patients who were admitted or out-patient in Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) Tagum City. Data were obtained at DRMC premises on October 15, 2014 to October 1, 2015 using a psychosocial needs inventory (PNI) questionnaire. Categorical variables expressed as proportions (n,%) were analyzed using chi-square statistics. On the other hand, continuous data (x, + SD) were analyzed using the t-test. In measuring the degree of association of two nominal data, bivariate correlational analysis (Pearson Correlation) was utilized.
RESULTS: The results in this study show a significant association of the demographic and clinical profile of the patients to their psychosocial needs in the aspect of mental, social, emotional/spiritual, and practical, as reflected in the p-values and r-values revealed in the analysis. On the other hand, it was also revealed that there seem to be important unmet needs that were also expressed by the cancer patients.
CONCLUSION: Patients with cancer have health needs that are not only limited to medical, but also with psychosocial needs. However, what these psychosocial needs are, and their hierarchy among cancer patients with different demographic and clinical features has not been fully explored. This study revealed that the demographic and clinical profiles of cancer patients enrolled in this study are significantly associated with psychosocial needs in terms of mental, social, emotional/spiritual, and practical needs. The outcome of this study suggests that an exemplary model of health care for cancer patients should not focus only on medical and clinical aspect, but also taking into account the psychosocial needs of the patients. Hence, health care providers should confine to the full course of psychosocial needs in a holistic approach both medical and non-medical aspects to improve the quality of life of patient battling with cancer.