Supportive Care Needs in Females With Breast Cancer Under Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy and its Predictors

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the unfulfilled needs of patients with breast cancer and the predictors of this disease in order to plan for appropriate interventions based on these needs. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 190 females with breast cancer in Arak-Iran, who were selected by the convenience sampling method. Patients were evaluated by Socio-demographic and Disease Questionnaire, Perceived Illness Questionnaire, and Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form. Data were analysed using SPSS, one-way ANOVA, chi-square, independent t test, the Pearson correlation coefficient, and multivariate linear regression. Results: Based on the results, the average number of supportive care needs was 100 (31.9). In addition, the greatest needs of patients were related to psychological, health-information, and physical sub-scales with a mean of 31.3 (12.5), 36.0 (12.5), 14.9 (5.8), respectively. Finally, multivariate linear regression analysis showed that family income and the perception of illness were among the predictors of supportive care needs. Conclusion: In general, health attention providers are required to pay particular attention to the psychological, health, witting, and physical needs of females with mamma cancer and the related predictive factors of this disease.