Actual needs and perceived supply of nursing supportive care among patients with cancer in mainland China: A cross-sectional study
Yongxia Song, Jingru Li, and Yuan Feng co-first authors and contribute equally to this work.
Funding information: Chinese Nursing Association research project, Grant/Award Number: ZHKY201812; National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 81573017; University Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Province, Grant/Award Number: KJ2020A0194
Abstract
Aim
Nurses are considered a major source of professional support for patients. However, little is known about what cancer patients need from nurses regarding professional support and the provision of services in China. The purpose of this study is to investigate professional nursing supportive care needs, perceived supply, and the possible gaps between the two for patients with cancer in mainland China.
Methods
A total of 390 inpatients with different types of cancer were recruited. The professional nursing supportive care scale was used to assess the needs for and perceived supply of various types of support.
Results
The information aspect was one of the most critical needs for supportive care, and the technical aspect was the one with the highest perceived level of supply. Significant mismatches between actual needs and perceived supply were identified.
Conclusions
Significant gaps existed between actual needs and perceived supply. Nurses should pay more attention to the higher actual needs and lower perceived levels of supply regarding supportive care for cancer patients.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
