Supportive care needs and quality of care of patients with lung cancer in Mexico: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the supportive care needs (SC-needs), quality of patient-centered care (PCC), and factors associated with increased SC-needs of patients with lung cancer (LC) in Mexico.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in the main oncology hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in Mexico City. The study included LC ambulatory patients aged ≥18 years with at least one hospitalization before the survey, ≤five years since diagnosis, and without memory loss. Participants answered SC-needs and quality of PCC questionnaires. We performed a multiple negative binomial regression analysis to evaluate the factors associated with an increased number of SC-needs.

Results

One hundred twenty-eight LC patients participated. Most participants had adenocarcinoma (61.7%) and were at an advanced disease stage (92.1%). In the month preceding the survey, 3.9% had undergone surgery and 78.9% had been receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; 28.9% had symptoms of depression and 21.9% had anxiety. All patients reported one or more SC-needs—predominantly physical, daily living, information, and psychological needs. The significant gaps in PCC-quality were in the domains of care that addressed biopsychosocial needs and information for treatment decision-making. Factors that decreased the probability of SC-needs were respectful and coordinated care, high-school education, and older age. The factors increasing the likelihood of SCneeds were the type of LC (adenocarcinoma, mesenchymal tumors), chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and anxiety.

Conclusion

PCC improvement initiatives to address SC-needs of LC patients should be prioritized and focus on: (1) information on physical suffering relief and treatment; (2) psychological support; and (3) SC-needs monitoring.