Prevalence and correlates of the supportive care needs of Italian early-stage melanoma patients in follow-up

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the supportive care needs of early-stage Italian melanoma patients and identify the predictors of unmet needs.

Design: Bicenter cross-sectional.

Sample: Two hundred eight (TIS-T3) melanoma patients in follow-up.

Methods: In person self-assessment procedures; the Supportive Care Needs Survey short-form 34, the Distress Thermometer and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used.

Results: Of the patients surveyed, 56% experienced at least one or more moderate-to-high unmet needs. Lack of melanoma-specific information and psychological support aids were the most intense sources of need. Being aged 60–69 years, retired and distressed predicted unmet needs.

Conclusions: This study’s results demonstrate the need to implement supportive care needs screening among Italian early-stage melanoma patients during follow-up and to improve patient information and psychological support.

Implications for psychosocial providers or policy: Providing patients with a point person within the hospital staff who centralizes the demand and refers to appropriate interventions may help the management of unmet needs.

Keywords:

• cancer
• distress
• melanoma
• psycho-oncology
• supportive care needs

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was partially supported by a grant from Fondazione CRT (Ref. Num. 2013.2344).