Unmet needs for information and psychosocial support in relation to quality of life and emotional distress: A comparison between gynecological and breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: We compared gynecological and breast cancer patients regarding their needs for information and psychosocial support, quality of life (QoL), and emotional distress and the relationship among these constructs.

Methods: In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Germany, we evaluated 1214 female cancer patients (317 with gynecological cancer, 897 with breast cancer). We obtained self-reports of unmet needs, using a self-developed measure. We measured QoL with the EORTC QLQ-C30, symptoms of depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and symptoms of anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7).

Results: Compared to breast cancer patients, gynecological cancer patients felt less informed about several aspects of their disease, particularly regarding psychological support (p<0.001), tended to have more unmet information needs, and reported lower QoL levels. Lower emotional functioning, but higher physical functioning were independent correlates of the level of unmet information needs. Depressive symptoms and higher physical functioning (only in breast cancer) were independent correlates of higher needs for psychosocial support.

Conclusion: Compared to breast cancer, gynecological cancer patients were less satisfied with the information received and reported lower levels of QoL.

Practice implications: Both clinicians and policy makers should take efforts to address the higher needs of gynecological cancer patients.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Emotional distress; Gynecological cancer; Information; Needs; Psychosocial support; Quality of life.