Cancer is a pervasive global health challenge with significant impact on the psychosocial and physical well-being of diagnosed individuals and their caregivers. This study assessed the psychosocial needs of cancer patients in the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Mixed research design comprising quantitative and qualitative research methods was adopted in the study. Cancer patients receiving treatment at the Oncology clinic in Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria were randomly selected and the instruments for the study were: Moadel's Psychosocial Needs Assessment (α= 0.82), The Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form 34 (α= 0.70) and NCCN Distress Thermometer and Problem List. Focus group discussion guides were used to obtain qualitative data from cancer patients and oncology care providers in the selected hospitals. Quantitative data were analyzed using Simple percentage, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance while the qualitative data were thematically-analyzed.
The participants were predominantly females (88.9%) and breast cancer was the most common diagnosis. Majority of the respondents (98.6%) expressed high psychosocial needs. The findings of the study revealed that respondents show a high interest in informational needs domain demonstrating a need for information about various aspects of cancer and its treatment, physical and daily living needs were also discovered with 91.7% of the participants placing a strong priority on practical aspects of care such as finances, planning, and support for daily tasks.
Participants in the FGDs pointed out financial toxicity as a major need along the care continuum and the OCPs also pointed out the need for psychotherapeutic intervention in the management of cancer patients. However, lack of infrastructure was identified as a basic need to facilitate psycho-oncology care among patients.
Psycho-oncology services should be integrated in the management of cancer patients to enhance holistic care and improved quality of life.