title: The need for support among cancer patients - a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the demand for support among cancer patients subjected to systemic treatment or radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 321 cancer patients treated in three Polish oncology centers. More than 73% of the responders were diagnosed with cancer not earlier than a year prior to the study. Most of the patients received chemotherapy (74.8%); nearly a half of the subjects (46.7%) were subjected to radiotherapy and every tenth person received hormonal therapy. The subjects were examined with the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emotional and informative support were the most frequently needed forms of support. Age and sex did not exert significant effect on the need for support and the level of received support. Individuals with higher education showed the lowest scores of support seeking. The availability of instrumental support displayed the lowest score, especially among the individuals treated at daily chemotherapy units. The type of oncological treatment did not change the patients' perception of support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irrespective of their demographic and clinical characteristics, cancer patients should be provided with emotional, informative and instrumental support.
authors.affiliation: Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute of Oncology, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasek
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bazaliski
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sawicka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult