Matching the unmet needs of cancer survivors to resources using a shared care model.

A substantial number of cancer survivors have unmet needs affecting quality of life. The purpose of this project was to match the unmet needs of cancer survivors in three rural counties to available evidence-based interventions and resources that improve survivor quality of life using a shared care model. The modified Survivors Unmet Needs Survey (SUNS) was used to explore the unmet needs of 52 survivors in three domains: emotional health, access and continuity of care, and information. A comprehensive search for evidence-based interventions or other services available to these survivors was conducted. Finally, efforts were made to determine whether the use of a shared care delivery model of survivorship care might improve opportunities for survivors to connect with resources. Twenty-five percent of the rural survivors reported high or very high emotional health or access and continuity of care unmet needs. ANOVA results provide evidence that there is a difference between survivor years since diagnosis and access and continuity of care unmet needs. ANOVA results also found that there is a difference between survivor age and emotional unmet needs. Access to interventions and survivorship resources were found to be limited in these rural areas. Interventions or resources found to exist require technology access or substantial travel. In many cases, they were found to be simply out of reach for most rural survivors without assistance from care providers. The unmet needs of survivors can be determined and matched with resources that improve quality of life if providers collaborate through use of a shared care model.