title: The development of a supportive care needs assessment tool for Indigenous people with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the supportive care needs of Indigenous people with cancer and to date, existing needs assessment tools have not considered cultural issues for this population. We aimed to adapt an existing supportive care needs assessment tool for use with Indigenous Australians with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face interviews with Indigenous cancer patients (n = 29) and five focus groups with Indigenous key-informants (n = 23) were conducted to assess the face and content validity, cultural acceptability, utility and relevance of the Supportive Care Needs Survey - Short Form 34 (SCNS-SF34) for use with Indigenous patients with cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All items from the SCNS-SF34 were shortened and changed to use more appropriate language (e.g. the word 'anxiety' was substituted with 'worry'). Seven questions were omitted (e.g. items on death and future considerations) as they were deemed culturally inappropriate or irrelevant and 12 items were added (e.g. accessible transport). Optional instructions were added before the sexual items. The design and response format of the SCNS-SF34 was modified to make it easier to use for Indigenous cancer patients. Given the extensive modifications to the SCNS-SF34 and the liklihood of a different factor structure we consider this tool to be a new tool rather than a modification. The Supportive care needs assessment tool for Indigenous people (SCNAT-IP) shows promising face and content validity and will be useful in informing services where they need to direct their attention for these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indigenous people with cancer have language, customs and specific needs that are not accommodated within the standard SCNS-SF34. Our SCNAT-IP improves acceptability, relevance and face validity for Indigenous-specific concerns. Our SCNAT-IP will allow screening for supportive care needs that are specific to Indigenous cancer patients' and greatly inform targeted policy development and practice.
authors: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, PO Box 10639, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia. gail.garvey@menzies.edu.au
authors: Gail
authors: G
authors: Garvey
authors: Vanessa L
authors: VL
authors: Beesley
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Janda
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Jacka
authors: Adèle C
authors: AC
authors: Green
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: O'Rourke
authors: Patricia C
authors: PC
authors: Valery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D044382:Population Groups; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult