Pancreatic cancer patient’s moderate or high unmet supportive care needs over time and risk factors of future unmet needs — ASN Events
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Pancreatic cancer patient’s moderate or high unmet supportive care needs over time and risk factors of future unmet needs (#155)

Vanessa L Beesley 1 , Monika Janda 2 , Leesa F Wockner 3 , Peter O'Rourke 3 , Helen Gooden 4 , David Goldstein 5 6 , Neil D Merrett 7 , David K Wyld 8 , Rachel E Neale 9
  1. Gynaecological Cancers Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Statistics Unit, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  4. Cancer Nursing Research Unit, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. Discipline of Surgery , University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  8. Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  9. Cancer Aetiology & Prevention Group , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Aims: To determine among people with pancreatic cancer: level of unmet supportive care needs; changes in needs; and risk factors associated with future unmet needs.

Methods: Queensland pancreatic cancer patients completed a self-administered survey 0–6 months post-diagnosis (n=117) then follow-up surveys 2 (n=82) and 4 months (n=50) later. The Supportive Care Needs Survey-SF34 measured 34 needs across five domains. Weighted Generalised Estimating Equations identified risk factors associated with having ≥1 current or future moderate-to-high unmet need.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 67 years, 61% were male, and 44% had a resection. The first survey was completed a median of 3 months post-diagnosis and there were no significant differences in outcomes according to the timing of baseline survey completion. In the first survey, 69% reported having ≥1 moderate-or-high-level unmet need. The domain-specific prevalence was: 53% physical/daily living; 52% psychological; 28% health system/information; 17% patient care; and 13% sexuality. Significant risk factors for current moderate-to-high unmet need(s) included higher levels of pain (OR 5.8, CI 2.0-16.6), anxiety (OR 2.7, CI 1.9-6.0) and depression (OR 2.5, CI 1.2-5.4). Higher levels of pain (OR 3.6, CI 1.3-10.1) and non-resectable disease (OR 3.0, CI 1.0-9.2) were predictors of participants reporting moderate-to-high unmet need(s) at their next survey. The proportion of people with a moderate-to-high unmet need did not change significantly over time. Age, sex, marital status, education, remoteness, social/family wellbeing, comorbidities and seeing a care coordinator, mental health professional or dietician were not associated with unmet need(s). Predictors of unmet need(s) were similar across domains.

Conclusion: Compared to other cancer populations, persistently elevated levels of moderate-to-high unmet needs were reported by people with pancreatic cancer. People with pain and psychological symptoms have a need for more support, and the presence of non-resectable disease and pain indicate the need to provide continued support.