Grant R Williams1,2,3,4, Maria Pisu4,5, Gabrielle B Rocque2,4, Courtney P Williams2, Richard A Taylor6, Elizabeth A Kvale3, Edward E Partridge4, Smita Bhatia1,4, Kelly M Kenzik1,2,4. 1. Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. 2. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. 3. Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. 4. University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama. 5. Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. 6. School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adequate social support for older adults is necessary to maintain quality of life and reduce mortality and morbidity. However, little is known regarding the social support needs of older adults with cancer. The objective of the current study was to examine social support needs, specifically the unmet needs, among older adults with cancer. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries (those aged ≥65 years) with cancer were identified from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System Cancer Community Network. Social support needs were assessed using a modified version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. The authors defined an "unmet need" if participants reported having some/a little/never availability of support and requiring support for that need. RESULTS: Of the 1460 participants in the current study, the average age was 74 years (standard deviation, 5.8 years). Approximately two-thirds of participants (986 participants; 67.5%) reported having at least 1 social support need, with the highest needs noted in the emotional (49.5%) and physical (47.4%) support subdomains. Of those individuals with a support need, approximately 45% had at least 1 unmet need, with the greatest percentages noted in the medical (39%) and informational (36%) subdomains. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that participants who were nonwhite, were divorced or never married, or had a high symptom burden were at greatest risk of having unmet social support needs across subdomains. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of older adults with cancer, the authors found high levels of unmet social support needs, particularly in the medical and informational support subdomains. Participants who were nonwhite, were divorced or never married, or had a high symptom burden were found to be at greatest risk of having unmet needs.
BACKGROUND: Adequate social support for older adults is necessary to maintain quality of life and reduce mortality and morbidity. However, little is known regarding the social support needs of older adults with cancer. The objective of the current study was to examine social support needs, specifically the unmet needs, among older adults with cancer. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries (those aged ≥65 years) with cancer were identified from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System Cancer Community Network. Social support needs were assessed using a modified version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. The authors defined an "unmet need" if participants reported having some/a little/never availability of support and requiring support for that need. RESULTS: Of the 1460 participants in the current study, the average age was 74 years (standard deviation, 5.8 years). Approximately two-thirds of participants (986 participants; 67.5%) reported having at least 1 social support need, with the highest needs noted in the emotional (49.5%) and physical (47.4%) support subdomains. Of those individuals with a support need, approximately 45% had at least 1 unmet need, with the greatest percentages noted in the medical (39%) and informational (36%) subdomains. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that participants who were nonwhite, were divorced or never married, or had a high symptom burden were at greatest risk of having unmet social support needs across subdomains. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of older adults with cancer, the authors found high levels of unmet social support needs, particularly in the medical and informational support subdomains. Participants who were nonwhite, were divorced or never married, or had a high symptom burden were found to be at greatest risk of having unmet needs.
Authors: Grant R Williams; Mustafa Al-Obaidi; Chen Dai; Christian Harmon; Thomas W Buford; Olumide Gbolahan; Mackenzi Pergolotti; Smita Bhatia; Smith Giri Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-05-15 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Grant R Williams; Kathryn E Weaver; Glenn J Lesser; Emily Dressler; Karen M Winkfield; Heather B Neuman; Anne E Kazak; Ruth Carlos; Lucy J Gansauer; Charles S Kamen; Joseph M Unger; Supriya G Mohile; Heidi D Klepin Journal: Oncologist Date: 2020-08-31
Authors: Darryl Outlaw; Maya Abdallah; Luiz A Gil-Jr; Smith Giri; Tina Hsu; Jessica L Krok-Schoen; Gabor Liposits; Tânia Madureira; Joana Marinho; Ishwaria M Subbiah; Gina Tuch; Grant R Williams Journal: Semin Radiat Oncol Date: 2022-04 Impact factor: 5.934
Authors: Mackenzie E Fowler; Donna Murdaugh; Christian Harmon; Mustafa Al-Obaidi; Noha Sharafeldin; Smita Bhatia; Smith Giri; Grant R Williams Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2022-09-17 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Nabiel Mir; Paul MacLennan; Mustafa Al-Obaidi; Donna Murdaugh; Kelly M Kenzik; Andrew McDonald; Noha Sharafeldin; Crystal Young-Smith; Ravi Paluri; Olumide Gbolahan; Lakshmin Nandagopal; Smita Bhatia; Grant R Williams Journal: J Geriatr Oncol Date: 2020-03-13 Impact factor: 3.599
Authors: Marie A Flannery; Supriya Mohile; Eva Culakova; Sally Norton; Charles Kamen; J Nicholas Dionne-Odom; Grace DiGiovanni; Lorraine Griggs; Thomas Bradley; Judith O Hopkins; Jane Jijun Liu; Kah Poh Loh Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2021-08-08 Impact factor: 3.612