Identifying the unmet supportive care needs of men living with and beyond prostate cancer: A systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: Men affected by prostate cancer are a patient population in need of on-going person-centred supportive care. Our aim was to synthesise current available evidence with regard to the unmet supportive care needs of men living with and beyond prostate cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Statement Guidelines. Electronic databases (DARE, Cochrane MEDLINE, BNI, PsychINFO, EMBASE and CIHAHL) were searched to identify studies employing qualitative and/or quantitative methods. Methodological evaluation was conducted, and findings were integrated in a narrative synthesis.

Results: 7521 references were retrieved, 17 articles met the eligibility criteria. Individual needs were classified into the following domains: social needs (2/17: 11.8%), spiritual needs (4/7: 23.5%), practical needs (4/17: 23.5%), daily living needs (5/17: 29.4%), patient-clinician communication (5/17: 29.4%), family-related needs (7/17: 41.2%), physical needs (8/17: 47.1%), psychological emotional needs (9/17: 52.9%), interpersonal/intimacy needs (11/17: 64.7%) and health system/Information needs (13/17: 76.5%).

Conclusions: This systematic review has identified that men can experience a range of unmet supportive care needs with the most frequently reported being needs related to intimacy, informational, physical and psychological needs. Despite the emerging evidence-base, the current with-in study limitations precludes our understanding about how the needs of men evolve over time from diagnosis to living with and beyond prostate cancer. Whether demographic or clinical variables play a moderating role, only remains to be addressed in future studies. This review has made an important contribution by informing clinicians about the complex unmet supportive care needs of men affected by this disease.

Keywords: Prostate cancer; Quality of life; Supportive care needs; Systematic review.