Supportive Care Needs Among Mexican Breast Cancer Patients: From Diagnosis to Post-Treatment Follow-Up Visit

Abstract

Background: In Latin America, where 7.8% of worldwide new cancer cases occur, the implementation of supportive care services for cancer patients within public hospitals is not common practice and it is often a low priority. Identifying the priority care needs of these cancer patients is relevant to improve care provision, especially in Mexico, where breast cancer is highly prevalent and it is among the three leading causes of death in Mexican women. Objective: To investigate the course and predictors of supportive care needs among Mexican breast cancer patients for different cancer treatment trajectories. Methods: In this observational longitudinal study data from 172 patients were considered. Participants were assessed after diagnosis, neoadjuvant treatment, surgery, adjuvant treatment and the first posttreatment follow-up visit. The Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34) was used to assess psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, patient care and support, sexual, and additional care needs dimensions. Linear mixed models with maximum-likelihood estimation were computed. Results: The supportive care needs course was similar across the different cancer treatment trajectories. Supportive care needs declined significantly from diagnosis to the first posttreatment follow-up visit. The highest care needs over time were those from the health system and information dimension. Depressive symptoms and time since diagnosis were the most consistent predictors of changes in development of supportive care needs of these patients. Conclusion: Health system and information care needs of Mexican breast cancer patients need to be addressed with priority because these needs are the least met. Furthermore, patients with high depressive symptoms at the start of the disease trajectory have greater needs for supportive care throughout the disease trajectory.