Quality of life and most prevalent unmet needs of Chinese breast cancer survivors at one year after cancer treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine the supportive care needs of Chinese breast cancer survivors, and investigate the relationships with participant characteristics and quality of life.


METHODS
A total of 163 participants were recruited from a local public hospital and completed a self-administered questionnaire: the 34-item Supportive Care Needs Survey, the supplementary module of access to healthcare and ancillary support services, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy.


RESULTS
The five most commonly reported unmet needs were all in the health system information domain (range: 55-63%), and the majority (84%) reported at least one unmet need in relation to information on healthcare. Stepwise multivariable regression analyses revealed that the time spent on travelling from home to hospital, receiving hormonal therapy, and physical and psychological unmet needs were independently associated with poorer quality of life among the participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast cancer survivors perceive various unmet needs, and health system information is the most common one. Those who have more unmet needs in the physical and psychological domains were more likely to perceive a poorer quality of life.
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: winnieso@cuhk.edu.hk.
Winnie K W
WK
So
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ka Ming
KM
Chow
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Helen Y L
HY
Chan
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Kai Chow
KC
Choi
Department of Clinical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Rayman W M
RW
Wan
Department of Clinical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Suzanne S S
SS
Mak
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Sek Ying
SY
Chair
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Carmen W H
CW
Chan
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
Breast cancer survivors; Chinese; Quality of life; Supportive care needs