Are the nonmedical needs of cancer patients satisfied adequately.
e18283 Background: Cancer is a global health care problem. Cancer disease is not only medical problem, there are a lot of areas in human life that cancer has influence on. The rationale for this study was to identified non-medical needs among cancer patients during treatment and assessment of who helps patients. Methods: The study was carried out on a group of 346 patients who were being treated for malignant neoplasm in five oncological centers in Poland. A questionnaire was prepared specifically for this study and each patient was interviewed individually. The questionnaire was validated on a group of 20 patients. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. All of the participants had submitted a signed consent form. Results: There were analyzed 164 women and 180 men (2 no date), median age 65 years. 79% of patients could have hoped for psychological support, most of them received psychological support from partner/family (88%) and friends (31%), less from psychologist (28%) and priest (5%). Half of patients (52%) had a need for social support, 42% of them received social support from partner/family, 12% from friends and only 7% from a social worker. One third of patients (30%) received support from a dietician. The help from a physiotherapist were given to 20% of patients. In the analysis of different factors it was noticed that women more often than men got help from psychologist and physiotherapist (p < 0.05). Some of patients (16%) did not know that they could get help in their non-medical needs. 80% of analyzed patients thought they need someone who would help them with the non-medical problems during their cancer disease. Conclusions: Cancer patients have some non-medical needs, but only a small part of them receives professional support. The proper solution could be a special person who may notice patients problems and coordinate professional support.