Unmet care needs in adult life following childhood brain tumour

[NEWS, 7 April 2011] Patients treated in childhood for tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) have persistent and unmet health care needs even in adulthood, according to a comprehensive study from Karolinska Institutet which investigated an entire cohort of patients in Sweden. The findings are presented in an upcoming issue of the American scientific journal Cancer. The study included 526 adults that were former child cancer patients, and 550 parents. The researchers studied the current health care needs of the patients, based on reports from patients and parents. Persistent care and support needs were identified within several domains, such as medical care, psychosocial support services, need for knowledge about the disease and its consequences, and coordination of care and support services. Among the survivors, 40 percent reported that their health care needs exceeded the assumed average for the general population, and 41percent had one or several current unmet health care needs. Relatively frequent needs related to the area of medical care were more often satisfied (unmet reported by 20 percent of the patients), compared to other areas.