Prevalence and nature of survivorship needs in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the number, type, and predictors of patients with head and neck cancer unmet survivorship needs.

Methods: This study accrued patients with head and neck cancer at any time point in their survivorship course, and they completed a survey, including demographic information and the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN).

Results: The median age of the 158 participants was 64 years. Ninety-six patients (61%) reported at least one unmet need on the CaSUN and 6 patients had a very high number of needs between 31 and 35. The mean number of unmet needs was 5.8 ± 8.9. Comprehensive Cancer Care was the most common domain of unmet need (n = 69; 45%). Younger age, earlier survivorship phase, and worse quality of life were associated with increased survivorship unmet needs on multivariable analysis.

Conclusion: A high proportion of patients with head and neck cancer have unmet needs. These data can guide the development of head and neck survivorship programs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1097-1103, 2016.

Keywords: head and neck neoplasms; resources; survivorship; unmet needs.