Patient–provider discussion about emotional and social needs, mental health outcomes, and benefit finding among U.S. Adults living with cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background A discussion about patient's nonmedical needs during treatment is considered a crucial component of high‐quality patient–provider communication. We examined whether having a patient–provider discussion about cancer patients’ emotional and social needs is associated with their psychological well‐being. Methods Using the 2016–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey‐Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Supplement (MEPS–ECSS) data, we identified the cancer survivors in the United States (US) who reported having a detailed discussion about emotional and social needs during cancer care. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between having a patient–provider discussion and the patients’ psychological well‐being outcomes (depressive symptoms, severe psychological distress, and worrying about cancer recurrence/worsening condition) and benefit finding experience after a cancer diagnosis. Results Among 1433 respondents (equivalent to 13.8 million cancer survivors in the US), only 33.6% reported having a detailed patient–provider discussion about their emotional and social needs. Having a discussion was associated with 55% lower odds (odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26–0.77) of having depressive symptoms and 97% higher odds (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.46–2.66) of having benefit finding experience. There was no statistically significant association between patient–provider discussion and psychological distress or worrying about cancer recurrence/worsening. Conclusion Detailed patient–provider discussion about the cancer patients’ emotional and social needs was associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms and a higher likelihood of experiencing benefit finding. These findings stress the importance of improving the patient–provider discussion about psychosocial needs in cancer survivorship.