Aims:Although supportive cancer services are aimed at addressing the broad needs of survivors they are frequently underutilised. Our study aimed to identify public knowledge and opinions of these services. Influences on ratings of importance of supportive care were measured including three psychological predictors; internal health locus of control (HLoC), self-efficacy for health, and attitude to support seeking for mental health difficulties.
Methods:The sample (N=369) were recruited via a market research company (n=207) and social media advertisement (n=162). Participants, average age 40 years (SD=17.1), were mostly female (60.4%) and employed (59.8%). The 20-minute online survey included demographic questions, an awareness of supportive care measure and the three psychological predictors. Importance of Supportive Care was measured on a 0-100 analogue scale, with items derived from the NCCN’s Problem Checklist. Participants also indicated who was responsible for supportive care provision.
Results:Most participants were aware of supportive care services currently available (64.7%). The provision of this care was rated as very important overall (M(SE)=74.2(1.04)), with emotional (M(SE)=81.0(1.10)) and practical (M(SE)=80.3(1.14)) care seen as most important. However, supportive care was rated as less important than disease-focused activities (M(SE)=86.5(0.98)). There was a positive association between attitude towards seeking mental health support and perceived importance of supportive care. Self-efficacy for health and HLoC were not related to perceived importance in multivariable analyses. Survivors and their family and friends were consistently rated as responsible for supportive care provision.
Conclusions:There is considerable overlap in attitudes to mental health support and cancer supportive care and most people rate the latter as important. However, primary responsibility for its provision is attributed to the survivor and their support network. Taken together, these results help explain patients’ oft-cited reluctance to seek supportive care from external services and may indicate potential avenues for changing these perceptions.