Tzu-Yin Lee1, Henny Dwi Susanti1,2, Kuo-Chen Hung3, Su-Yueh Yang4,5, Hui-Fen Fang6,7,8, Jia-Ruey Tsai9, Jeng-Fong Chiou10,11, Min-Huey Chung12,13. 1. School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wu-Xing Street, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia. 3. Department of Computer Science and Information Management, Hungkuang University, Taichung City, Taiwan. 4. Department of Nursing, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Center for Nursing and Healthcare Research in Clinical Practice Application, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Department of Nursing, Taipei Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 8. Nursing Services, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 9. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 10. Taipei Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 11. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 12. School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wu-Xing Street, Taipei, Taiwan. minhuey300@tmu.edu.tw. 13. Department of Nursing, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan. minhuey300@tmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Globally, different age groups in the elderly population have experienced major shifts over time. Human life expectancy doubled from the 19th to the twentieth century and has increased to 80 years in the twenty-first century. These conditions imply economic challenges and the increasing prevalence of certain health conditions. Old age is associated with increased care needs in various aspects of daily life. This study assessed the health care needs of elderly patients with lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan and analyzed the factors underlying their needs. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed 234 elderly patients with diagnosis of lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan. We investigated their health care needs and daily living functions by using the Supportive Care Needs Survey and Karnofsky Performance Status, respectively. RESULTS: Patients required the most assistance in physical functioning and daily living. Patients aged ≥85 years required more care than those aged 65-74 years in terms of information access and sexuality needs. Patients with poor functional status required more care than those capable of undertaking normal activities. Patients diagnosed as having liver cancer required more care than those with lung or colorectal cancer. Patients with advanced cancer required more physical and daily care than those with early-stage cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' health care needs differed with age, primary cancer site, and functional status. Patients aged ≥85 years and those with poor function, primary liver cancer, and advanced cancer had higher care needs.
BACKGROUND: Globally, different age groups in the elderly population have experienced major shifts over time. Human life expectancy doubled from the 19th to the twentieth century and has increased to 80 years in the twenty-first century. These conditions imply economic challenges and the increasing prevalence of certain health conditions. Old age is associated with increased care needs in various aspects of daily life. This study assessed the health care needs of elderly patients with lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan and analyzed the factors underlying their needs. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed 234 elderly patients with diagnosis of lung, liver, and colorectal cancer in Taiwan. We investigated their health care needs and daily living functions by using the Supportive Care Needs Survey and Karnofsky Performance Status, respectively. RESULTS:Patients required the most assistance in physical functioning and daily living. Patients aged ≥85 years required more care than those aged 65-74 years in terms of information access and sexuality needs. Patients with poor functional status required more care than those capable of undertaking normal activities. Patients diagnosed as having liver cancer required more care than those with lung or colorectal cancer. Patients with advanced cancer required more physical and daily care than those with early-stage cancer. CONCLUSIONS:Patients' health care needs differed with age, primary cancer site, and functional status. Patients aged ≥85 years and those with poor function, primary liver cancer, and advanced cancer had higher care needs.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer; Elderly population; Health care needs; Supportive care needs survey
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