Selected Factors Associated with Supportive Care Needs in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Persons

Abstract

Purpose: To study the supportive care needs and the relationships between selected factors, including age, marital status, education level, type of treatment, anxiety, symptom distress, and social support, with the supportive care needs of newly diagnosed individuals with breast cancer.

Design: Descriptive correlational research.

Methods: The sample consisted of 133 individuals newly diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving treatment at two tertiary hospitals in Bangkok. Multi-stage random sampling was conducted between November 2023 and April 2024. The instruments used included a personal information form, the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form 34, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Symptom Distress Scale, and a Social Support Questionnaire. The content validity indices of the instruments were as follows: the Supportive Care Needs Survey had a validity of 0.88, the Symptom Distress Scale had a validity of 0.80, and the Social Support Questionnaire had a validity of 0.90. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.957, 0.953, 0.850, and 0.824, respectively. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, point-biserial correlation, and Spearman's rank correlation statistics.

Results: The participants had an average age of 55 years, were predominantly married, and held a bachelor's degree. They reported a low level of supportive care needs, with an average score of 2.39 (SD = 0.78). In the domain of health systems and information, participants reported a moderate level of need, with an average score of 3.09 (SD = 0.91), followed by patient care and support, with an average score of 2.80 (SD = 1.22). Anxiety and symptom distress showed a moderate positive correlation with supportive care needs (state anxiety: r=0.40r = 0.40, trait anxiety: r=0.41r = 0.41, and symptom distress: r=0.45r = 0.45, p<0.001p < 0.001). Social support demonstrated a low negative correlation with supportive care needs (r=−0.18r = -0.18, p<0.05p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between supportive care needs and age, marital status, educational level, or type of treatment.

Conclusion: The findings of this study can inform the development of nursing guidelines for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, with particular focus on addressing needs related to the health system and information to better meet their requirements.