Trajectory patterns and influencing factors of supportive care needs in Chinese elderly breast cancer patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the trajectory patterns of supportive care needs in Chinese older patients with breast cancer and their predictive factors. METHODS: A total of 122 older patients with breast cancer were recruited. Demographic and disease-related information, type D personality, and supportive care needs were investigated at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Latent class growth model was used to identify the trajectory patterns of supportive care needs. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors for membership. RESULTS: Three trajectories with different characteristics of changing categories of supportive care needs were identified in the final analysis, named as "High needs decline group" (38.5%), "High needs sustained group" (51.6%), and "Low needs sustained group" (9.8%). Univariate analysis showed that age, education level, number of children, primary caregiver, pathological stage, surgical modality, treatment protocols, and personality traits were associated with the trajectory categories of supportive care needs of older patients with breast cancer. Multiple logistic regression showed that primary caregiver type, treatment protocols, and personality traits were influential factors in the trajectory of supportive care needs of older patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the heterogeneity of changes in supportive care needs. The supportive care needs of older patients with breast cancer show a trajectory of change in different categories, and healthcare providers can develop individualized interventions based on the characteristics of different patients.

Association between type D personality and supportive care needs in elderly patients with breast cancer: a prospective longitudinal observational study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with breast cancer often have more unmet needs after receiving common treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Type D personality has been related to supportive care needs in the general population. However, its association with supportive care needs in elderly breast cancer patients has not been prospectively explored. This study aimed to address this gap. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to understand the impact of Type D personality on the supportive care needs of elderly breast cancer patients at diagnosis, 2 weeks postoperatively, 3 months postoperatively, and 6 months postoperatively and to analyse the impact of Type D personality on the changing trajectory of supportive care needs after controlling for confounding factors such as demographics, symptom distress and social support. METHODS: A total of 122 elderly patients (≥ 65 years) with breast cancer in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China, were included from September 2021 until August 2022. Supportive care needs were measured by the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form and tracked at diagnosis, 2 weeks postoperatively, 3 months postoperatively, and 6 months postoperatively. To investigate changes in the supportive care needs of elderly breast cancer patients and the effect of Type D personality on these needs, a linear mixed model was applied. RESULTS: A total of 122 elderly patients participated. There was an overall decreasing trend in supportive care needs, with Type D personality patients having significantly higher levels of supportive care needs than the non-Type D personality patients at all stages. Through linear mixed models, it was found that the Type D personality group had a lower overall downward trend than the non-Type D personality group, with need levels remaining consistently higher. This difference persisted after controlling for demographic information, symptom burden, social support. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly breast cancer patients with Type D personality had higher levels of supportive care needs and a slower rate of decline that was maintained over a longer period than those with non-Type D personality.