Abstract
This study identified the key Unmet Needs of men with localized prostate cancer. A series of Nominal Groups were used to identify needs, from which a 135-item survey was developed to assess both the Importance and Unmet Need of each item. An Importance-Weighted Unmet Need score was calculated for each item, incorporating both the Importance and the degree to which the need was unmet. Surveys (n=500) were distributed in four geographically distinct areas, with a response rate of 46%. Respondents were 90% Caucasian, 80% married, with a mean age of 66 years, and mean education of 14 years. Care delivery needs were most important and least unmet, while Support needs were least important and most unmet. However, when degree to which needs were unmet was weighted by Importance, information needs had the highest Importance-Weighted Unmet Need scores. The greatest Unmet Needs for information were in knowledge of recurrence issues and in side effects of the illness and its treatment.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 233-242 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Patient education and counseling |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2003 |
Funding
This research was funded by grant number TPRB-98-265-01-PBP from the American Cancer Society. The authors wish to thank their collaborators at each of the sites which participated in the Nominal Groups and survey administration, without whom this study could not have been completed, including: Michael Blute, M.D. (Mayo Clinic); Richard Boxer, M.D. (Midwest Research Specialists, Milwaukee, WI); Joanna Bates, M.D. (St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC); Robin Mitchell (National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, Chicago, IL); and Rivienne Shedd-Steele (Little Red Door Cancer Agency, Indianapolis, IN). We also wish to thank Dr. Roger Brown for advice on statistical analyses.
Keywords
- Needs assessment
- Patient education
- Prostate cancer
- Social support
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine