title: Partners and close family members of long-term cancer survivors: health status, psychosocial well-being and unmet supportive care needs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on partners and close family members of patients. Little is currently known about the long-term impact.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to describe health status, levels of anxiety and depression, unmet supportive care needs and positive outcomes in the partners/family members of breast, prostate and colorectal cancer survivors 5-16 years post-diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in a linked study were asked to invite a partner or other close family member to complete a self-administered postal questionnaire. Data were analysed by cancer site and time since diagnosis. Matched comparisons were made between cancer patients in the linked study and their partners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An expression of interest was received from 330 partners/family members, and 257 questionnaires (77.9%) were returned. Health status and levels of anxiety and depression were comparable with population norms. Respondents reported an average of 2.7 unmet needs from 34 possible options. Hospital parking, information about familial risk, help managing fear of recurrence and coordination of care were the most cited unmet needs. There was little variation in health status, psychological morbidity and unmet needs by cancer site or time since diagnosis. Concordance between patients and partners was low for anxiety but higher with respect to positive outcomes and some unmet needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most partners/family members of long-term cancer survivors report few ongoing issues. However, a small proportion (<10%) have high levels of anxiety and/or moderate or strong unmet needs. Strategies for identifying this group and addressing their needs are required, while allowing the majority to resume normal life.
authors: School of Health and Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Turner
authors: Eike
authors: E
authors: Adams
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Boulton
authors: Sian
authors: S
authors: Harrison
authors: Nada
authors: N
authors: Khan
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Rose
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Ward
authors: Eila K
authors: EK
authors: Watson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom