Health & social care in the community
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Health Soc Care Community · Nov 2001
Informal carers of cancer patients: what are their unmet psychosocial needs?
This paper considers the significant unmet psychosocial needs of the informal carers of cancer patients, drawing on data generated in a 3-year UK study (1997-2000) on the psychosocial needs of cancer patients and their main carers. While the needs of the carers of cancer patients are increasingly being recognised in healthcare policy documents, there is relatively little published literature on these needs. A "significant unmet need" is defined here as a need deemed important by the carer, but which has not been met. ⋯ These are the same areas of significant unmet need that concern patients. However, carers have more of these concerns, reflecting their comparative neglect. The paper also considers how these widespread concerns can be addressed.