INTRODUCTION

Support for cancer patients is a vital component of effective treatment, from diagnosis to recovery and survivorship. Unmet support needs can lead to additional stress, which may manifest in the form of headaches, sleeping problems, stomach upset, elevated blood pressure, or chest pain—all of which can have adverse effects (The effects of stress on your body, 2012). However, it is most important to identify patient needs for support. Support may come from many sources—family members, caregivers, providers, education classes, religious communities, social groups, and even online communities (Patient and family, 2013). The present review of the literature explored the supportive care needs of cancer patients of varying ages and genders at varying stages of cancer treatment.

A search of the online databases CINHAL and PubMed was completed and based on empirical research, using the search terms ”cancer,” “support,” and “needs.” To ensure that our findings were current and based on empirical research, the review was restricted to peer-reviewed studies published in the English language between 2009 and 2014. The search yielded 11 research articles that evaluated the supportive care needs of cancer patients and survivors (Table 1).

Table 1.

Summary of Literature Reviewed

Galván and colleagues (Reference Galván, Buki and Garcés2009) studied the emotional, informational, and instrumental support needs of immigrant Latina women with breast cancer using focus groups and interviews. They found that women who perceived themselves as recipients of social support experienced less psychological stress and adjusted better to their breast cancer diagnosis than women who did not perceive themselves as receiving social support. The study identified the three stages of the breast cancer experience during which social support was most important: diagnosis, treatment, and posttreatment. In a similar study, Liao and coworkers (Reference Liao, Chen and Chen2009) investigated the effect of supportive care on women with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic phase. Two nonrandomly assigned groups (experimental and control) were employed. The experimental group received supportive care, which included pamphlets on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and three sessions of individual, face-to-face health education and emotional support, with two follow-up telephone counseling sessions. The control group received routine care. Supportive care needs before breast biopsy and after biopsy results were revealed and were found to be significantly lower for the experimental group.

Jones and colleagues (Reference Jones, Wenzel and Hinton2011), who conducted focus groups with African-American prostate cancer survivors, identified two themes: the importance of physician and family support, and the need for healthcare insurance. The study also found a major difference between African-American prostate cancer survivors in rural and urban settings. The men from rural settings reported more incorporation of spirituality in their responses to cancer throughout their diagnosis and treatment.

Older adults frequently have poorer health and fewer financial resources than younger patients, introducing special challenges for older adult cancer patients (Wenzel et al., Reference Wenzel, Jones and Klimmek2012). Wenzel and colleagues (Reference Wenzel, Jones and Klimmek2012) studied older African-American cancer survivors' diagnosis and treatment experiences through focus groups. The researchers identified four themes: the need for information about cancer and available community resources, the importance of spirituality to achieve and maintain a positive attitude, the need for support networks extending beyond the immediate family, and the need for help in reporting financial issues. Hamilton and coworkers (Reference Hamilton, Moore and Powe2010) examined perceived social support needs among older 22 African-American cancer survivors and found that perceptions of social support in this sample were influenced by symptoms and side effects, perceptions of stigma and fears by the family and social network, cultural beliefs about cancer, and a desire to reduce any burden or disruption for members of their family and social network. Survivors moved within and outside of their networks to get their social support needs met.

Young adults and adolescents are at the stage of life when they are developing their identity, emotional relationships, and body image. Using semistructured interviews, Wakefield and colleagues (Reference Wakefield, McLoone and Butow2013) investigated young adults' and their families' perceptions of their healthcare and support needs following cancer treatment. They found that psychosocial and financial support were most needed by families whose loved ones had undergone cancer treatment. Participants suggested implementation of fitness programs to treat weight gain related to cancer, a 24-hour support hotline, case management, and family vacations as methods for improving support care. David and coworkers (Reference David, Williamson and Tilsley2012) employed focus group interviews to explore the psychosocial support care needs of young adults receiving radiation therapy. Their study revealed needs for peer support and information support. In particular, peer support was considered vital to living as normal a life as possible. Easley and colleagues (Reference Easley, Miedema and Robinson2013) conducted a qualitative, descriptive study with 12 young adult thyroid cancer survivors aged 18–39 who were 1 to 5 years posttreatment. Participants felt that their cancer experience was downplayed because they had a “good” cancer. Many felt they were not considered real patients with cancer by their healthcare providers and other cancer patients. They were also unwilling or unable to assess support programs or assistance from healthcare providers.

Supportive care, including informational and spiritual support, is important during all stages of treatment. Sutherland and colleagues (Reference Sutherland, Hill and Morand2009) utilized telephone surveys to assess the supportive care needs of newly diagnosed patients and found that perceived needs were predominantly related to information. McCallum and coworkers (Reference McCallum, Jolicoeur and Lefebvre2014) utilized self-report questionnaires with women who were diagnosed or treated for gynecological cancer to assess supportive care and sexual health needs and found that 40% of participants were worried about the status of their sex lives and wanted to meet one-on-one with a healthcare professional or receive written information.

Harrison and colleagues (Reference Harrison, Watson and Ward2011) studied the supportive care needs of long-term cancer survivors through a questionnaire survey. The unmet needs identified were in these domains: informational support, existential survivorship, and comprehensive care.