Pattern and Predictors of Unmet Supportive Care Needs in Cancer Patients

Background: The incidence of cancers is increasing, and this is associated with an increase in the burden of the disease. Patients with cancer have to deal with reduced physical functioning, emotional instability, difficulty in concentrating, and an overall diminished feeling of well-being. This creates deficits that have not been well catered for by traditional cancer care, leading to an overall dissatisfaction with care, and a reduced quality of life. Aim: This review aims at assessing the pattern of unmet needs in cancer patients and to provide information as to the factors that influence the perception of unmet needs. Methods: Studies directly focused on unmet needs in cancer patients were retrieved from MEDLINE, PubMed, PsychINFO, Embase, and Google Scholar; from the earliest records until 2016. Unmet needs in cancer patients have been measured with a wide variety of tools, with the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS) being the most commonly used as a result of its strong psychometric properties, eas...