Gynecological Cancer Survivors: Assessment of Psychological Distress and Unmet Supportive Care Needs

Abstract

This study highlights psychosocial needs of gynecological cancer survivors, contributing to evaluation of the Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs measure. Of the 45 participants, 28.9% reported clinical anxiety, 20.0% mild-to-severe depression, and 15.6% had probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Strength of unmet needs was associated with anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, poorer quality of life, younger age, and greater time since diagnosis. Linear regressions showed clinical measures, quality of life, optimism, and self-blaming coping style explained 56.4% of strength of unmet needs. Anxiety, functional well-being, posttraumatic stress, and emotional well-being accounted for 40.7% of variance in fear of recurrence, with emotional well-being the strongest predictor.

KEYWORDS:

• cancer
• oncology
• gynecology
• fear of recurrence
• supportive care needs
• survivor

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to the participants in this study, and to Associate Professor Margaret Davy, Director of Gynaecological Oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, for her support and assistance. Our sincere thanks to the nursing and administration staff at the Women's Health Centre, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Dr. John Miller at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who assisted in recruitment. We would also like to thank Professor Charles Spielberger for his kind permission to use the State Anxiety Inventory.