title: Self-reported psychosocial needs and health-related quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and nature of unmet needs among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors and the relationship between needs and quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) as a sampling frame and working in collaboration with primary care physicians or GPs, the Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs (CaSUN) questionnaire and the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors Scale (QLACS) were posted to a randomly selected sample of 600 CRC survivors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 69% (413/600) met eligibility criteria for participating in the study; and 30% (124/413) responded to the survey. A comparative analysis of NICR data between respondents and non-respondents did not indicate any systematic bias except that respondents appeared to be younger (65 years vs. 67 years). Approximately 60% of respondents reported having no unmet needs, with 40% reporting one or more unmet health and social care needs such as fear of recurrence, information needs, difficulty obtaining travel insurance and car parking problems. QoL was significantly lower for CRC survivors who reported an unmet need. Highest scores (poorer QoL) were reported for fatigue, welfare benefits and distress recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the majority of CRC survivors who had care needs appeared to have needs that were mainly psychosocial in nature and these unmet needs were related to poorer QoL.
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery Queens University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK. Electronic address: o.santin@qub.ac.uk.
authors: Olinda
authors: O
authors: Santin
authors: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Block B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK. Electronic address: l.murray@qub.ac.u.
authors: Liam
authors: L
authors: Murray
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery Queens University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK. Electronic address: g.prue@qub.ac.uk.
authors: Gillian
authors: G
authors: Prue
authors: N. Ireland Cancer Registry, Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Building, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6DP, UK. Electronic address: a.gavin@qub.ac.uk.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Gavin
authors: Centre for Medical Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, UK. Electronic address: g.gormley@qub.ac.uk.
authors: Gerard
authors: G
authors: Gormley
authors: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Block B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK. Electronic address: michael.donnelly@qub.ac.uk.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Colorectal cancer survivors; Quality of life; Unmet needs