Table 12.
Studies reporting variations in unmet needs by age in HNC patients.
| Author | Location | No. | Age(range) | Head Neck Subsite | Treatment | Instrument | Domains covered | Study design | Assessment Time | Variation – No. needs | Variation - specific needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giuliani et al. (199) | Canada | 158 | Median 64 years (19-89 years) |
OC, 29% OPC, 17% HPC/LC, 17% NPC, 5% Other 33% |
Sx, 22% Sx + aRT/CRT, 35% RT/CRT, 40% |
CaSun | 35 items, 5 domains: Existential, Survivorship, Comprehensive Cancer Care, Information, Quality of Life, and Relationships |
Cross-sectional | Diagnosis to follow-up (68% ≥6m post treatment) |
Older less unmet needs | NR |
| Henry et al. (200) | Canada | 127 | Mean 61 years | OC, 35% OPC, 8% LC, 21% Thyroid, 8% Other, 28% |
None, 2% Sx alone, 15% Sx + aRT/CRT, 41% RT/CRT, 43% |
SCNS-SF34 | 34 needs items, 5 domains: Psychological, Health system and information, Physical and daily living, Patient care and support, and Sexuality |
Cross-sectional | Post-treatment (49% ≥1y) | No differences by age | NR |
| Henry et al. (201) | Canada | 145 | Mean 63 years | OC, 16% OPC, 44% HPC, 1% LC, 14% NPC, 3% Other, 14% Unknown, 9% |
Any: Sx, 36% RT, 86% CT, 67% |
SCNS-SF34 | 34 needs items, 5 domains: Psychological, Health system and information, Physical and daily living, Patient care and support, and Sexuality Factor analysis determined 3 dimensions: 1. psychological and physical and daily living domain; 2. health system and information, patient care and support domain; and 3. sexuality domain |
Prospective: reported post-treatment outcomes | 3 months post-treatment | No differences by age | Only the sexuality domain varied by age |
| Wells et al. (202) | Scotland | 319 | Mean 65 years (27-91 years) | OCC, 34% LC, 33% OPC, 20% NR, 13% |
Sx alone, 27% Majority “combination therapy” |
PCI | 45 concerns items, no domains * | Cross-sectional postal | Post treatment (69% ≥ 1y) |
Younger patients more concerns: (Mean) <45 - 11.5 45-54 – 11.6 55-64 – 10.1 65-74 – 7.6 ≥75 – 7.9 |
NR |
| Rogers et al. (164) | United Kingdom | 483 | Median 63 years (56-72 years) | OCC, 57% OPC, 21% Other, 20% |
Sx alone, 51% Sx + aRT, 35% RT, 10% |
PCI | 57 concerns items; Physical function and wellbeing, Treatment-related, Social care and social wellbeing, Psychological, Emotional and Spiritual wellbeing a |
PCI data from follow-up clinics collected from 6 different studies, not consecutive; number of responses ranged from 1-≥4 | Post treatment | No difference in total concerns | Decrease in FCR from 46% (<55) to 20% (≥75) Older patients more frequently selected bowel habits, constipation, diarrhoea, coughing and memory Older patients selected fewer items in the psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing domain |
| Ghazali et al. (203) | United Kingdom | 674 | Mean 64 years | OCC, 50% Pharynx, 25% LC, 17% Other, 6% |
Sx alone - 50% Sx + aRT, 33% CRT, 14% Unknown, 3% |
PCI | 57 concerns items; Physical function and wellbeing, Treatment-related, Social care and social wellbeing, Psychological, Emotional and Spiritual wellbeing * |
PCI data for first time completers | Post-treatment (Median 32m, range 14-58m) | NR | Older patients less likely to select items from the: 1. psychological, emotional wellbeing and spiritual domain; and 2. Social care and wellbeing domain |
| O’Brien et al. (204) | Ireland | 583 | <60 35% 60-69 37% ≥70 27% |
OCC, 47% Pharyngeal, 19% LC, 30% Unknown, 4% |
Any: Sx, 69% RT, 64% CT, 22% |
SCNS-SF34 | 34 needs items, 5 domains: Psychological, Health system and information, Physical and daily living, Patient care and support, and Sexuality |
Cross-sectional | Post-treatment (50% > 5y) | NR | Older patients reported fewer items in each domain |
| Manne et al. (205) | New Jersey | 92 | Mean 62 (33-79) | OCC, 62% OPC, 38% |
Any: (self-reported) Sx, 66% RT, 84% CT, 65% |
Shortened version - SCNS-SF34 | Only 25 items, 5 domains: Psychological, Health system and information, Physical and daily living, Patient care and support, and Sexuality |
Cross-sectional | Post-treatment | Age not associated with total support needs; | Age not associated with information needs |
| Chen et al. (206) | Taiwan | 112 | Mean 53 (27-80) | OCC, 100% | All surgery | Chinese version SCNS-SF34 | 34 needs items, 5 domains: Psychological, Health system and information, Physical and daily living, Patient care and support, and Sexuality |
Cross-sectional | Post-surgery (10-14 days) | Older age associated with decreasing overall needs | Older age associated with decreasing sexual needs, but not other domains |
| Lee et al. (207) | USA | 342 | Mean 56 | Tongue, 48% Tonsil, 18% Other 30% % OPC, 18% |
Any: Sx, 71% RT, 84% CT, 58% |
SUNS | 89 items, 5 domains: Information, Access and continuity of care, Emotional health, Relationships, and Financial concerns. |
Cross-sectional | Post-treatment (>3m) | NR | Older age associated with less relationship and emotional needs |
aRT/CRT, adjuvant radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy; CaSUN, Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Measure; CT, chemotherapy; FCR, fear of cancer recurrence; HPC, hypopharyngeal cancer; LC, laryngeal cancer; NPC, nasopharyngeal cancer; NR, not reported; OCC, oral cavity cancer; OPC, oropharyngeal cancer; PCI, patient concerns inventory; RT/CRT, radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy; SCNS-SF34, Supportive Care Needs Survey–Short Form; SUNS, Survivors Unmet Needs Survey; Sx, surgery.