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Table 3 Overall unmet needs domains and prevalence ranges of prominent items by each domain (Patients)

From: Unmet care needs of advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers: a systematic review

Domains

Number of studies

Subdomains/ items

Prevalence ranges

Physical

22

Fatigue

18–76.3% [6, 31, 33, 34, 42, 43, 45, 47, 51, 54, 56, 63]

Pain

18–75% [6, 31, 33, 36, 45, 47, 50, 60, 66]

Sleep problems

21.1–37.1% [28, 47]

Dyspnea

19–67.3% [36, 45, 56]

Lack of appetite

13–80% [45, 50, 55, 63]

gastrointestinal symptoms

12–45.1% [45, 66]

“Felling unwell a lot of the time”

17.3–44.7% [6, 33, 50]

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

11

“not being able to do the things you used to do”

19–46.9% [6, 33, 50, 58, 60]

“Work around the home”

18.6–44.2% [6, 33, 50, 55]

Psychological

25

“Uncertainty about the future”

21.4–62.4% [6, 31, 33, 41, 60]

Emotional Support

10.1–84.4% [6, 28, 29, 31, 33, 36, 41, 45, 46, 50, 70, 72, 73]

(Anxiety [6, 33]: 15.3–41.8%; Depression [31, 33, 41, 50]:15–62.4%)

“worry that the results of treatment are beyond your control”

19–71.8% [6, 41, 50, 58, 60]

“Feeling about death and dying”

32.5–62.4% [33, 41]

“Fears about the cancer spreading”

17.6–78.8% [6, 31, 41, 42, 47, 50, 55]

“concerns about the worries of those close to you”

27.9–68.2% [6, 33, 41, 50, 60]

“Support in coping”

24.3–57.5% [29, 54, 55]

“Learning to feel in control of your situation”

32.5–56.5% [33, 41]

“Fear of physical suffering”

16.7–62.9% [31, 34, 36, 47, 50]

Social

9

family and friends’ support

9.9–96.5% [29, 45, 54, 55, 63, 65, 67]

volunteers

18.7% [65]

Communication

5

Communication

7.7–87.9% [28, 29, 56, 63, 66]

Financial

8

Financial

6.6–72% [28, 31, 36, 43, 46, 54, 55, 70]

Spiritual

5

Meaning of death

15–85.4% [31, 36]

Religious

44% [43]

“being able to choose the place where you want to die”

11–15% [54, 55]

Autonomy

5

“I can do less than before”

17–83% [31, 34, 43]

“experiencing loss of control over one’s life”

16–19% [31, 47]

Patients care and support

3

“Reassurance by medical staff that the way you feel is normal”

32.5–56.5% [33, 41]

“doctor acknowledges and shows sensitivity to your feelings and emotional needs”

34.8–39.5% [33, 42]

Healthcare service and information

14

“Being informed about things you can do to help yourself to get well”

41–65.9% [33, 41, 42, 60, 75]

“Having one member of hospital staff with whom you can talk to”

32–72% [33, 41, 75, 58, 75]

“Being informed about your test results as soon as feasible”

50.8–62.5% [41, 42, 75]

“benefit and side-effects of treatment”

4–66.7% [31, 41, 42, 44, 54, 63, 66, 69, 75]

“Being given written information about the important aspects of your care”

42.3–52.9% [41, 75]

“Being treated like a person not just another case”

34.5–54.1% [37, 41, 61, 75]

“Being informed about cancer which is under control”

54.1–60.4% [41, 75]

Sexuality

4

Sexuality

5–75% [31, 36, 45, 58]

Nutrition

2

Nutrition

38.9–43.2% [28, 66]

Counseling

1

 

17–24% [31]

  1. Notes: Needs items (sentences or phrases) which were put in the quotation marks were directly extracted from the corresponding included studies