Abstract
BackgroundGlobally, different age groups in the elderly population have experienced major shifts over time. Human life expectancy doubled from the 19th to the twentieth century and has increased to 80 years in the twenty-first century. These conditions imply economic challenges and the increasing prevalence of certain health conditions. Old age is associated with increased care needs in various aspects of daily life. This study assessed the health care needs of elderly patients with lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan and analyzed the factors underlying their needs.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed 234 elderly patients with diagnosis of lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan. We investigated their health care needs and daily living functions by using the Supportive Care Needs Survey and Karnofsky Performance Status, respectively.ResultsPatients required the most assistance in physical functioning and daily living. Patients aged ≥85 years required more care than those aged 65–74 years in terms of information access and sexuality needs. Patients with poor functional status required more care than those capable of undertaking normal activities. Patients diagnosed as having liver cancer required more care than those with lung or colorectal cancer. Patients with advanced cancer required more physical and daily care than those with early-stage cancer.ConclusionsPatients’ health care needs differed with age, primary cancer site, and functional status. Patients aged ≥85 years and those with poor function, primary liver cancer, and advanced cancer had higher care needs.
Highlights
Different age groups in the elderly population have experienced major shifts over time
Participants may receive more than one cancer treatments. 61.1% of them reported having received chemotherapy, 17.9% reported having received surgery, 16.2% reported having received radiotherapy, and 22.6% reported having received other type(s) of cancer treatments. 84.6% of the patients received only one type of cancer treatment. 15.4% of the patients received more than two types of cancer treatments
The health care needs of elderly patients with these kinds of cancers differed according to age, primary cancer site, cancer stage, and general function in daily life
Summary
Different age groups in the elderly population have experienced major shifts over time. Human life expectancy doubled from the 19th to the twentieth century and has increased to 80 years in the twenty-first century. These conditions imply economic challenges and the increasing prevalence of certain health conditions. This study assessed the health care needs of elderly patients with lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan and analyzed the factors underlying their needs. According to 2019 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report, cancer has been the major cause of death in Taiwan for over 30 years, and lung, liver and colorectal cancer are the three most common cause of cancer death [3, 4]. With Taiwan’s ageing population and growing cancer prevalence, the health care needs of elderly individuals with cancer requires further investigation
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