Prevalence and nature of survivorship needs in patients with head and neck cancer

ABSTRACT Background The purpose of this study was to determine the number, type, and predictors of patients with head and neck cancer unmet survivorship needs. Methods This study accrued patients with head and neck cancer at any time point in their survivorship course, and they completed a survey, including demographic information and the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN). Results The median age of the 158 participants was 64 years. Ninety‐six patients (61%) reported at least one unmet need on the CaSUN and 6 patients had a very high number of needs between 31 and 35. The mean number of unmet needs was 5.8 ± 8.9. Comprehensive Cancer Care was the most common domain of unmet need (n = 69; 45%). Younger age, earlier survivorship phase, and worse quality of life were associated with increased survivorship unmet needs on multivariable analysis. Conclusion A high proportion of patients with head and neck cancer have unmet needs. These data can guide the development of head and neck survivorship programs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1097–1103, 2016