Health care needs of elderly patients with lung, liver, or colon cancer in Taiwan

BMC Palliative Care

Table 1 Demographics and Disease Characteristics of All Participants (n = 234)

Variable	N	%
Sex
Female	103	44.0
Male	131	56.0
Age (year)
65–74	150	64.1
75–84	68	29.1
≥ 85	16	6.8
Residential area
Northern	50	21.4
Central	58	24.8
Southern	99	42.3
Eastern and Islands	27	11.5
Education
No formal education	40	17.1
Primary school	101	43.2
Junior high school or above	93	39.7
Marital status
Unmarried	74	31.6
Married	160	68.4
Chronic diseases
No	74	31.6
Yes	160	68.4
Primary cancer site
Liver or intrahepatic bile duct	64	27.4
Lung, bronchus, or trachea	70	29.9
Colon, rectum, or anus	100	42.7
Cancer stage
Unknown	66	28.2
0–II	52	22.2
III	47	20.1
IV	69	29.5
Treatment^a
Surgery	42	17.9
Chemotherapy	143	61.1
Radiotherapy	38	16.2
Other	53	22.6
Variable	Mean	SD
Age	73.3	6.3
Karnofsky performance status	75.0	19.8
Total supportive care needs	79.7	20.5
Physical and daily living needs^b	38.5	22.5
Psychological needs^b	35.3	19.4
Patient care and support needs^b	26.7	15.1
Health system and information needs^b	33.1	18.9
Sexuality needs related to sexual relationships^b	33.3	21.4

^aPercentages are proportions of total; respondents may indicate more than one category
^bScore for each domain of care needs calculated using standardized methods

ISSN: 1472-684X