Unmet Postsurgical Needs of CRC Survivors Compromise Overall Survivorship

A qualitative meta-synthesis found that survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) have unmet rehabilitation needs after surgery. These findings were published in Nursing Open.

A study published in 2019 found that 74% of CRC survivors had unmet needs.

In this study, investigators from Hubei University of Medicine and Jingchu University of Technology in China searched publication databases through September 2022 in a systematic evaluation for common residual difficulties. A total of 14 studies published between 2011 and 2022 were included in this review.

The pooled study population comprised 356 survivors of CRC who ranged in age from 27 to 84 years.

CRC survivors experience various needs through the different stages of their treatment, including emotional support, economic needs, information and guidance, and symptom management. Several themes were identified in this review.

Eating habits Survivors had challenges transitioning from soft to solid food-based diets, had difficulty consuming nutritious foods, and needed guidance about continuity of care. Survivors stated they were confused about what and how much to eat.

Exercise Survivors expressed having knowledge about the importance of exercise after surgery; however, patients had not been instructed on how to do so. They had questions about intensity, frequency, and duration of exercise that would be most beneficial after surgery.

Unaddressed physiological needs Many patients dealt with fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and/or neuropathy after surgery. Some of these symptoms went undiscussed with clinicians because patients felt these subjects were hard to talk about.

Other themes involved returning to work, spiritual needs, and a need for multidimensional social support.

The findings in this synthesis may not be generalizable to all patients, as the majority of studies were conducted in North America and Europe.

“CRC survivors experienced unpredictable dysfunction, psychological problems and poor relationships, leading to a decline in quality of life. Therefore, medical staff should adopt personalized care plans to address the unmet needs of CRC survivors,” suggested the study authors.