Accounting for unmet needs resulting from cancer-related cognitive impairment

Darren Haywood; Alexandre Chan; Raymond J. Chan; Evan Dauer; Haryana M. Dhillon; Ashley M. Henneghan; Maryam B. Lustberg; Moira O’Connor; Janette L. Vardy; Susan L. Rossell; Nicolas H. Hart

doi:10.1007/s11764-025-01769-6

Accounting for unmet needs resulting from cancer-related cognitive impairment

Darren Haywood, Alexandre Chan, Raymond J. Chan, Evan Dauer, Haryana M. Dhillon, Ashley M. Henneghan, Maryam B. Lustberg, Moira O’Connor, Janette L. Vardy, Susan L. Rossell, Nicolas H. Hart

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Abstract

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) causes a wide range of unmet needs for cancer survivors. It is unknown which clinical, demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors underpin and account for these various unmet needs. This study aimed to (a) identify factors associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, and (b) establish the most pertinent factors that account for CRCI-related unmet needs.

Methods: Four hundred and fifty-six (n = 456) cancer survivors responded to a range of demographic and clinical questions, as well as measures of CRCI-related unmet needs (MASCC COG-IMPACT), perceived cognitive impairment (PROMIS-COG), and psychological distress (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and feed-forward multiple regression analyses were completed.

Results: Cognitive impairment severity (r = 0.39 to 0.59; p < 0.01), psychological distress (r = 0.36 to 0.58; p < 0.01), and time since diagnosis (r = − 0.11 to − 0.20; p < 0.05 to p = 0.02) were significantly associated with CRCI-related unmet needs across all domains. Age (r = − 0.10 to − 0.22; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), stage of cancer at initial diagnosis (r = 0.10 to 0.13; p < 0.001 to p = 0.04), stage of cancer at most progressed (r = 0.11 to 0.18; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), and sex (r = 0.12; p = 0.01; females experiencing greater unmet needs than males), were significantly associated with one or more domains of unmet need. Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most pertinent factors accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs (R² = 0.245, F_{(3, 487)} = 48.96, p < 0.001 to R² = 0.474, F_{(3, 487)} = 114.81, p < 0.001), explaining 24.5% to 47.4% of the variance.

Conclusion: Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most key factors in accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs. Other variables, while associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, did not provide additional predictive utility.

Implications for Cancer Survivors: The results may inform the choice of supportive care targets, and future strategies, to improve supportive care for people experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Original language	English
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Cancer Survivorship
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-025-01769-6
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 11 Mar 2025

Keywords

Assessment
Cancer
Cancer-related cognitive impairment
Needs
Unmet needs

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Final published versionFinal published version, 767 KBLicence: CC BY

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@article{1da6b317beca42b792440971ea589384,

title = "Accounting for unmet needs resulting from cancer-related cognitive impairment",

abstract = "Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) causes a wide range of unmet needs for cancer survivors. It is unknown which clinical, demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors underpin and account for these various unmet needs. This study aimed to (a) identify factors associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, and (b) establish the most pertinent factors that account for CRCI-related unmet needs.Methods: Four hundred and fifty-six (n = 456) cancer survivors responded to a range of demographic and clinical questions, as well as measures of CRCI-related unmet needs (MASCC COG-IMPACT), perceived cognitive impairment (PROMIS-COG), and psychological distress (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and feed-forward multiple regression analyses were completed. Results: Cognitive impairment severity (r = 0.39 to 0.59; p < 0.01), psychological distress (r = 0.36 to 0.58; p < 0.01), and time since diagnosis (r = − 0.11 to − 0.20; p < 0.05 to p = 0.02) were significantly associated with CRCI-related unmet needs across all domains. Age (r = − 0.10 to − 0.22; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), stage of cancer at initial diagnosis (r = 0.10 to 0.13; p < 0.001 to p = 0.04), stage of cancer at most progressed (r = 0.11 to 0.18; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), and sex (r = 0.12; p = 0.01; females experiencing greater unmet needs than males), were significantly associated with one or more domains of unmet need. Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most pertinent factors accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs (R2 = 0.245, F(3, 487) = 48.96, p < 0.001 to R2 = 0.474, F(3, 487) = 114.81, p < 0.001), explaining 24.5% to 47.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most key factors in accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs. Other variables, while associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, did not provide additional predictive utility. Implications for Cancer Survivors: The results may inform the choice of supportive care targets, and future strategies, to improve supportive care for people experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment.",

keywords = "Assessment, Cancer, Cancer-related cognitive impairment, Needs, Unmet needs",

author = "Darren Haywood and Alexandre Chan and Chan, {Raymond J.} and Evan Dauer and Dhillon, {Haryana M.} and Henneghan, {Ashley M.} and Lustberg, {Maryam B.} and Moira O{\textquoteright}Connor and Vardy, {Janette L.} and Rossell, {Susan L.} and Hart, {Nicolas H.}",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1007/s11764-025-01769-6",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of Cancer Survivorship",

issn = "1932-2259",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Accounting for unmet needs resulting from cancer-related cognitive impairment

AU - Haywood, Darren

AU - Chan, Alexandre

AU - Chan, Raymond J.

AU - Dauer, Evan

AU - Dhillon, Haryana M.

AU - Henneghan, Ashley M.

AU - Lustberg, Maryam B.

AU - O’Connor, Moira

AU - Vardy, Janette L.

AU - Rossell, Susan L.

AU - Hart, Nicolas H.

PY - 2025/3/11

Y1 - 2025/3/11

N2 - Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) causes a wide range of unmet needs for cancer survivors. It is unknown which clinical, demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors underpin and account for these various unmet needs. This study aimed to (a) identify factors associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, and (b) establish the most pertinent factors that account for CRCI-related unmet needs.Methods: Four hundred and fifty-six (n = 456) cancer survivors responded to a range of demographic and clinical questions, as well as measures of CRCI-related unmet needs (MASCC COG-IMPACT), perceived cognitive impairment (PROMIS-COG), and psychological distress (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and feed-forward multiple regression analyses were completed. Results: Cognitive impairment severity (r = 0.39 to 0.59; p < 0.01), psychological distress (r = 0.36 to 0.58; p < 0.01), and time since diagnosis (r = − 0.11 to − 0.20; p < 0.05 to p = 0.02) were significantly associated with CRCI-related unmet needs across all domains. Age (r = − 0.10 to − 0.22; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), stage of cancer at initial diagnosis (r = 0.10 to 0.13; p < 0.001 to p = 0.04), stage of cancer at most progressed (r = 0.11 to 0.18; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), and sex (r = 0.12; p = 0.01; females experiencing greater unmet needs than males), were significantly associated with one or more domains of unmet need. Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most pertinent factors accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs (R2 = 0.245, F(3, 487) = 48.96, p < 0.001 to R2 = 0.474, F(3, 487) = 114.81, p < 0.001), explaining 24.5% to 47.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most key factors in accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs. Other variables, while associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, did not provide additional predictive utility. Implications for Cancer Survivors: The results may inform the choice of supportive care targets, and future strategies, to improve supportive care for people experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment.

AB - Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) causes a wide range of unmet needs for cancer survivors. It is unknown which clinical, demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors underpin and account for these various unmet needs. This study aimed to (a) identify factors associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, and (b) establish the most pertinent factors that account for CRCI-related unmet needs.Methods: Four hundred and fifty-six (n = 456) cancer survivors responded to a range of demographic and clinical questions, as well as measures of CRCI-related unmet needs (MASCC COG-IMPACT), perceived cognitive impairment (PROMIS-COG), and psychological distress (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and feed-forward multiple regression analyses were completed. Results: Cognitive impairment severity (r = 0.39 to 0.59; p < 0.01), psychological distress (r = 0.36 to 0.58; p < 0.01), and time since diagnosis (r = − 0.11 to − 0.20; p < 0.05 to p = 0.02) were significantly associated with CRCI-related unmet needs across all domains. Age (r = − 0.10 to − 0.22; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), stage of cancer at initial diagnosis (r = 0.10 to 0.13; p < 0.001 to p = 0.04), stage of cancer at most progressed (r = 0.11 to 0.18; p < 0.001 to p = 0.03), and sex (r = 0.12; p = 0.01; females experiencing greater unmet needs than males), were significantly associated with one or more domains of unmet need. Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most pertinent factors accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs (R2 = 0.245, F(3, 487) = 48.96, p < 0.001 to R2 = 0.474, F(3, 487) = 114.81, p < 0.001), explaining 24.5% to 47.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment severity and psychological distress were the most key factors in accounting for CRCI-related unmet needs. Other variables, while associated with CRCI-related unmet needs, did not provide additional predictive utility. Implications for Cancer Survivors: The results may inform the choice of supportive care targets, and future strategies, to improve supportive care for people experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment.

KW - Assessment

KW - Cancer

KW - Cancer-related cognitive impairment

KW - Needs

KW - Unmet needs

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UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/2017080

UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1194051

U2 - 10.1007/s11764-025-01769-6

DO - 10.1007/s11764-025-01769-6

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:86000776603

SN - 1932-2259

JO - Journal of Cancer Survivorship

JF - Journal of Cancer Survivorship

ER -

Accounting for unmet needs resulting from cancer-related cognitive impairment

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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