title: Supportive care needs of Iranian cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A supportive needs assessment is an essential component of any care program. There is no research evidence regarding the supportive care needs of cancer patients in Iran or other Middle Eastern countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the supportive care needs of Iranian cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was conducted in a referral medical center in the northwest of Iran. A total of 274 cancer patients completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-59). Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 18 items of the SCNS, more than 50% of the participants reported that their needs were unmet. Most frequently, unmet needs were related to the health system, information, physical, and daily living domains, and most met needs were related to sexuality, patient care, and support domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iranian cancer patients experience many unmet needs and there is an urgent need for establishing additional supportive care services in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Azad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Faranak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jabarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department Human Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadpoorasl
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pakpour
keywords: Cancer; Supportive care; Supportive care needs; Supportive care needs survey