title: Assessing the impact of diagnosis and the related supportive care needs in patients with cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the large number of people affected by melanoma, little is known about the specific needs of melanoma patients. Understanding the effects of melanoma diagnosis and the specific supportive care needs of this group of patients is a necessary step towards provision of effective psychosocial care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 15 patients with malignant melanoma of the skin. The sample size, which was purposive, included 8 females and 7 males from 27 to 78 years old. Data were analysed using the NVIVO 8 software and principles of thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four major areas were identified: (a) Emotional effects due to body image, fear of the sun and uncertainty for the future; (b) Effects on Relationships, with some patients in need of more support than others from family and work colleagues; (c) Functional effects due to on-going symptoms such as pain and lymphedema; and (d) Health System and Information Needs, around the clarity, quality and timing of the information received from the health care professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that we often fail to pick up melanoma patients' health and psychosocial needs and fail to refer them appropriately, rather than the services not being available. Interventions should focus on patient and carer education about melanoma and sun protection, psychosocial support and effective information giving. Patient-reported outcome measures should routinely be collected to identify issues of specific concerns to the patients and directing them to the right services based on their individual needs.
authors.affiliation: Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Block C, Withington Hall Cotton Lane, Manchester, M20 4UX, UK, Zoe.Stamataki@christie.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stamataki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lorigan
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newton-Bishop
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molassiotis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D012944:Social Support; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma