Unmet supportive care needs following primary treatment among colorectal cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common worldwide, with a growing number of survivors, including in Vietnam. Understanding their unmet supportive care needs is crucial, as evidence from international studies may not be applicable to Vietnam's healthcare system and cultural context. This study aimed to identify the unmet supportive care needs of CRC survivors in Vietnam, and the factors associated with these needs after primary treatment.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 354 adult CRC survivors who had completed primary treatment and were attending follow-up care at a leading oncology hospital in Vietnam. The questionnaire included a personal information form and the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs (CaSUN) measure. Descriptive analyses and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Overall, 70.8% of participants had at least one unmet need, with the mean prevalence score was 6.66 out of 35 (SD = 6.34), and the mean intensity score was 0.26 out of 3 (SD = 0.29). Participants reported the most frequent unmet need in the existential survivorship domain and the greatest severity in the quality-of-life domain. Factors associated with a higher unmet need included lower education, receipt of adjuvant therapy, and a shorter duration since treatment completion.

CONCLUSION

CRC survivors face a broad spectrum of unmet needs. Follow-up care should regularly assess both the prevalence and intensity of unmet needs, and provide support tailored to the specific factors associated with these needs.