Palliative care needs of patients with gynaecologic cancer

Abstract

Aims and objectives To identify gynaecologic cancer patients' palliative care needs using the three levels of needs questionnaire.

Background Measuring both the burden of symptoms and patient-reported palliative care needs is valuable to improve cancer care. Data representing the palliative care needs of cancer patients in Turkey remain limited.

Design A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Methods A total of 134 cancer patients were included in the study at an oncology hospital in Turkey. A data collection form, a short-form medical outcomes health survey, and the three levels of needs questionnaire were used to collect data.

Results The mean age of participants was 59 ± 8·76, of 69·4% were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 52·2% had stage-3-4 cancer. Of patients, 69·3% had no desire for sexual intimacy, 33·5% expressed feeling as though they burden their families and 28·4% feel lonely at some level. The most prevalent problems were tiredness, to feel depressed and problems performing physical activities. The most frequent unmet needs were tiredness (60·5%), feel depressed (47·4%) and lack of appetite (38·5%).

Conclusions Gynaecologic cancer patients have relatively high prevalence of symptoms and unmet palliative care needs. Health professions mostly were unable to recognise and properly manage tiredness, depression as well as lack of appetite as an integral part of quality cancer care.

Relevance to clinical practice Nurses trained in palliative care are needed to evaluate and meet cancer patients' needs regularly to improve quality of palliative care. Nurses should examine the underlying reasons for most prevalent problems and give nursing care accordingly.