title: Unmet psychosocial needs among cancer patients undergoing ambulatory care in Singapore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have demonstrated high prevalence of unmet psychosocial needs among cancer patients, but few were conducted among Asians. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with unmet psychosocial needs among cancer patients undergoing ambulatory care at a cancer centre in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study among 535 breast, gynaecological and colorectal cancer patients (response rate, 76%) using a modified version of the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs measure questionnaire, to assess the prevalence of patients' needs for disease information and social support, physical needs, financial needs and psychological needs, and the extent to which needs were met. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify demographic or disease characteristics associated with unmet needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five per cent of patients reported having any unmet needs, with disease information needs being most prevalent (61.5%) followed by financial (40.2%), social support (39.7%), psychological (27.3%) and physical (26.1%) needs. Factors independently associated with having high level of unmet needs were age below 60 years, ethnic minority, advanced disease and recent diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of unmet psychosocial needs among cancer patients in ambulatory care is generally high. Young patients with disease recently diagnosed at advanced stage will benefit from additional support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Helena Marieke
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Verkooijen
authors.forename: London Lucien
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Woon-Puay
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D044466:Asian People; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012846:Singapore; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires