Abstract:

The identification and management of unmet supportive care needs of cancer patients is an important component of health-care services. Assessment of the nature and prevalence of patient needs that are not met will be guiding in the planning of patient-care, and in the identification of gaps in oncology services towards a necessary restructuring. The purpose of this review article is to determine the nature and prevalence of unmet supportive care needs of adult cancer patients through different stages over the course of the disease, i.e. diagnosis and active treatment, post-treatment survival and in various tumour groups such as breast, ovarian, prostate, lung and brain tumours. This study aims to contribute to the Turkish literature in the area of unmet patient needs as an important current concept in the framework of international cancer policy, to draw the attention of health-care professionals who work in the field of oncology in general or specialised wards, and emphasize the importance of patient-centred holistic care that can be provided through team-work

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