title: Supportive care needs and distress in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer: Nothing to worry about?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a paucity of psychosocial research on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) despite the fact that these malignancies mainly develop on the head and neck, frequently recur, and are associated with an increased risk for other cancers. The current study aims to respond to this gap in the scholarship by determining the prevalence of supportive care needs and examining the relationship between patients' needs and distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional research protocol included a consecutive sample of 60 patients with squamous and/or basal cell carcinomas who completed a survey comprised of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Supportive Care Needs (SCNS) Survey, an inquiry about informational needs regarding skin cancer prevention, and a socio-demographic questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of the patients indicated unmet needs, most frequently endorsing moderate and high needs for help with: the prevention of future skin cancers, the health system and informational matters. Psychological needs were strongly associated with skin cancer-specific and general distress. Higher levels of anxious and depressive symptoms were related to greater patient needs across all domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite NMSC not being life threatening in most cases, there is a significant proportion of patients, who have unmet supportive care needs and experience heightened distress levels. This study raises awareness for health care professionals to be vigilant about the supportive care needs and the psychological health of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Suite 614, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1Y2, Canada; Louise Granofsky Psychosocial Oncology Program, Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada; Psychosocial Oncology Program, McGill University Health Centre, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1A4, Canada; Department of Oncology, McGill University, 546 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: annett.korner@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Körner
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Wilson Hall, 3506 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2A7, Canada. Electronic address: Rosalind.garland@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Rosalind
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Suite 614, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1Y2, Canada. Electronic address: Zofia.czajkowska@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Czajkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Suite 614, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1Y2, Canada. Electronic address: Adina.coroiu@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coroiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill University, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Room D6.237, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1A4, Canada; Dermatology-Oncology Unit, Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada. Electronic address: MKhanna@jgh.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D002170:Canada; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000523:psychology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Distress; Fear of recurrence; Non-melanoma skin cancer; Psychosocial health needs; Squamous cell carcinoma