Healthcare providers' perceptions about the unmet needs of their patients with cancer across healthcare systems: results of the International Psycho-Oncology Society survivorship survey.

Abstract

Systematic understanding of patients' unmet needs is essential for providing effective supportive care. This study sought to compare the unmet needs of patients with cancer identified by health care providers (HCPs) among four major healthcare systems. HCPs (n = 247) participated in the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Survivorship Online Survey, evaluating their patients' unmet needs. The country of HCPs was grouped into four major healthcare systems: Beveridge model, Bismarck model, National Health Insurance model, and out-of-pocket model. Most HCPs were from countries with the Bismarck model. Substantial levels (> 50%) of unmet needs in all domains are reported across the four healthcare systems. Pediatric patients/survivors living in countries under out-of-pocket healthcare model were evaluated to have less unmet needs for managing decline in physical or cognitive functioning and insomnia/sleep difficulty/fatigue, than those in countries under Beveridge, Bismarck, and National Health Insurance models. Moreover, middle-aged patients/survivors under Beveridge and National Health Insurance models were likely to have greater unmet needs for dealing with cancer-related financial concerns than those under Bismarck model. This study provides valuable insights into the unmet needs of patients with cancer in different healthcare systems, highlighting the significance of targeted interventions to address the unique needs of patients across diverse healthcare systems. Further investigation is warranted to identify the system factors associated with patients' unmet needs, enabling the development of effective healthcare policies and interventions to comprehensively address the multifaceted needs of patients with cancer.