Abstract:
A B S T R A C T
Purpose: Most women with breast cancer in Ghana are initially diagnosed with advanced disease, however, there
is limited research about Ghanaian women’s experiences of living with advanced breast cancer. The study aimed
to understand the perceived (felt) and expressed needs of women with advanced breast cancer.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study assessed the supportive care and spiritual needs, as well as the
supportive care service use, of women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer (n = 176) with the Supportive
Care Needs Survey-Long Form, the Spiritual Need Assessment for Patients and the modified Client Service
Receipt Inventory.
Results: Most participants (96.6%) had financial needs and needs in relation to having access to professional
counselling. The most prevalent supportive care needs reported were related to health system issues and information
needs (90.3%–96.6%). Compared to older women (51.7%), younger women (48.3%) reported greater
psychological (p = 0.002) and sexuality needs (p < 0.001) and less religious needs (p = 0.048). Most participants
(92.1%) had at least one spiritual need. Many of the available outpatient services were not accessed by the
majority of participants (>63%).
Conclusions: The study participants reported high supportive care needs even so, most did not access available
relevant services. Study findings indicate that most of the participants were unaware of the health and supportive
care services that were available to them or that these services were not easily accessible due to their financial
status or geographical location. Targeted interventions are needed to assist the women to address their supportive
care, spiritual and service needs.
