Objective: Single-person households with cancer are a growing, vulnerable population. This study used a mixed-methods approach to identify their multifaceted unmet needs across the care trajectory and to explore influencing factors, with the goal of informing tailored support models.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional mixed-methods study with 88 cancer patients living alone in Korea. Data were collected via telephone/in-person surveys assessing quality of life, unmet needs, loneliness, and social support, and through semi-structured interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Results: Quantitative analysis revealed that the most frequently reported unmet needs were both practical and psychosocial: caregiver support (15.9%), psychological distress (15.9%), transportation (13.6%), and managing physical symptoms (12.5%). Qualitative findings illustrate a cascade of challenges beginning with systemic and practical barriers. Patients described navigating a healthcare system designed for families, where policies requiring guardians and a lack of support for transport or home care intensified the daily burden of self-management. This constant self-reliance led to significant informational and decisional challenges, as making complex treatment choices became an isolating and overwhelming task without a trusted person to consult. Ultimately, these practical and decisional burdens fueled profound psychosocial and existential needs, where participants grappled not only with emotional isolation but also with their identity—expressing a powerful desire to be seen as resilient individuals finding their own meaning, rather than as passive, dependent patients.
Conclusion: Cancer patients living alone have distinct, interconnected practical and psychosocial needs that are poorly addressed by current care frameworks. Developing integrated, patient-centered support models is essential to ensure equitable care for this population.