title: Prevalence, associated factors and source of support concerning supportive care needs among Japanese cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study aimed to describe cancer survivors' supportive care needs in Japan, to identify associated factors of unmet needs, and to describe the source of support that are preferred and actually used by cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a web-based questionnaire, we examined unmet supportive needs and its associated factors among 628 adult Japanese cancer survivors. The questionnaire comprised 16 items representing five domains (medical-psychological, financial, social-spiritual, sexual, and physical needs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of unmet need ranged from 5 to 18%, depending on different domains. The prevalence was high in medical-psychological and financial domains and relatively low in physical and sexual domains. Poor performance status, psychiatric morbidity and low income status were associated with unmet needs of most domains. Most cancer survivors preferred and actually sought support from their family and friends. Financial needs were preferred to be provided by non-medical professionals. Call for peer support was intense, especially for medical-psychological, social-spiritual, and sexual needs; however, peer support was not well-provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrated characteristics of Japanese cancer survivors who are likely to have unmet needs. The study demonstrated need for expanded involvement of non-medical professionals and peer support, especially in the domains of medical-psychological, social-spiritual, financial and sexual needs.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.|Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Division of Comprehensive Patient Care, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umezawa
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.|Center for Psychiatric Oncology and Behavioral Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.|Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Asao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Division of Comprehensive Patient Care, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005378:Financial Support; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: cancer; cancer survivor; oncology; source of support; supportive care needs