Patients’ Non-Medical and Organizational Needs during Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Karolina Osowiecka, Radoslaw Sroda, Arian Saied, Marek Szwiec, Sarah Mangold, Dominika Osuch, Sergiusz Nawrocki and Monika Rucinska
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Karolina Osowiecka: Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Al. Warszawska 30, 11-041 Olsztyn, Poland
Radoslaw Sroda: Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Al. Wojska Polskiego 37, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
Arian Saied: Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Al. Wojska Polskiego 37, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
Marek Szwiec: Department of Surgery and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, Ul. Zyty 28, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland
Sarah Mangold: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Ul. Ceglana 35, 40-515 Katowice, Poland
Dominika Osuch: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Ul. Ceglana 35, 40-515 Katowice, Poland
Sergiusz Nawrocki: Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Al. Wojska Polskiego 37, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland
Monika Rucinska: Department of Oncology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Al. Wojska Polskiego 37, 10-228 Olsztyn, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine non-medical and organizational needs among cancer patients during diagnosis and treatment. The study included 384 cancer patients treated in five oncological centers in Poland. A questionnaire designed for the study was used. Most of the patients received psychological support from their partner/family/friends (88%), to a lesser extent from a psychologist (21%) and priests (4%). Forty-three percent of patients received social support from their partner/family/friends and only 7% of respondents received support from a social worker. Most patients stated they would like to have a professional who would help them with their non-medical problems during the diagnostic process and cancer treatment. The youth, with a higher education level who were professionally active and living in cities seemed to be more aware of their needs. Improvements to the oncological system in Poland should focus on expanding patient access to professional support of non-medical needs.

Keywords: non-medical needs; cancer; psychological support; social support; oncological system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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