title: Unmet needs and depression among carers of people newly diagnosed with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this analysis were to examine levels of unmet needs and depression among carers of people newly diagnosed with cancer and to identify groups who may be at higher risk, by examining relationships with demographic characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty dyads of people newly diagnosed with cancer and their carers, aged 18 years and older, were recruited from four Australian hospitals. People with cancer receiving adjuvant cancer treatment with curative intent, were eligible to participate. Carers completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners & Caregivers (SCNS-P&C45), and both carers and patients completed the Centre of Epidemiologic-Depression Scale (CES-D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 57% of carers reported at least one, 37% at least three, 31% at least five, and 15% at least 10 unmet needs; the most commonly endorsed unmet needs were in the domains of information and health care service needs. Thirty percent of carers and 36% of patients were at risk of clinical depression. A weak to moderate positive relationship was observed between unmet needs and carer depression (r=0.30, p<0.001). Carer levels of unmet needs were significantly associated with carer age, hospital type, treatment type, cancer type, living situation, relationship status (in both uni- and multi-factor analysis); person with cancer age and carer level of education (in unifactor analysis only); but not with carer gender or patient gender (in both uni- and multi-factor analyses).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings highlight the importance of developing tailored programmes to systematically assist carers who are supporting patients through the early stages of cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: l.heckel@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heckel
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council SA, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fennell
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Faculty of Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Faculty of Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Eastern Health, Department of Oncology, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia; University of Newcastle, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chirgwin
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; Epworth HealthCare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; Barwon Health, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Livingston
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; Carers; Depression; Oncology; Unmet needs