New for Cancer Patients - Screening for Supportive Care Needs

What are Supportive Care needs? Supportive care needs may include:

• Physical needs - pain, fatigue, nausea 
• Psychological needs (eg. anxiety, distress)
• Social needs (eg. practical supports, carer needs) 
• Information needs (eg. relating to diagnosis, prognosis, treatments) 
• Spiritual needs (eg. addressing hopelessness, despair)

Evidence shows that cancer patients who have had their supportive care needs addressed have lower rates of anxiety, mood disorders, nausea, vomiting and pain, and significantly greater knowledge about the disease and treatment (National Breast Cancer Centre and National Cancer Control Initiative, 2003).

Routine, supportive care screening is integral to best practice cancer care. All members of the healthcare team have a responsibility to identify and address supportive care needs.

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