Background 

Evaluating the needs of colorectal cancer survivors is critical for developing and providing effective supportive services; however, little is known about the specific needs of the survivors.

Objectives 

The aim of this study was to examine the types of social support that colorectal cancer survivors need at each treatment phase.

Methods 

Data were extracted using text-mining analysis from posts on an online self-help group for colorectal cancer survivors in Korea from 2011 to 2020. Classification analysis was performed based on the frequency of terms posted, and word clouds were created.

Results 

In the pretreatment phase, support for pain and diagnostic testing were needed. In the treatment phase, needing support for colorectal cancer treatment and managing subsequent adverse events were frequently mentioned. In the posttreatment phase, informational interventions providing information on adjusting to changes in bowel functions and preventing cancer recurrence were needed.

Conclusions 

There were differences in the types of social support and the number of words frequently used across phases of treatment, highlighting the need for phase-specific supportive interventions. The highest identified needs, including colorectal cancer treatment and adverse events in the treatment phase, suggest that colorectal cancer survivors need additional information about treatment within the healthcare system.

Implications for Practice 

Colorectal cancer survivors have specific needs that vary by their treatment stage. Supportive services that reflect the needs of each treatment phase are needed to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors.

中文翻译：

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结直肠癌幸存者在治疗阶段所需的社会支持类型：文本挖掘分析

背景 

评估结直肠癌幸存者的需求对于开发和提供有效的支持服务至关重要；然而，人们对幸存者的具体需求知之甚少。

目标 

本研究的目的是检查结直肠癌幸存者在每个治疗阶段所需的社会支持类型。

方法 

使用文本挖掘分析从 2011 年至 2020 年韩国结直肠癌幸存者在线自助小组的帖子中提取数据。根据发布术语的频率进行分类分析，并创建词云。

结果 

在预处理阶段，需要支持疼痛和诊断测试。在治疗阶段，经常提到需要结直肠癌治疗的支持和管理随后的不良事件。在治疗后阶段，需要信息干预提供有关调整肠道功能变化和预防癌症复发的信息。

结论 

不同治疗阶段的社会支持类型和常用词汇数量存在差异，凸显了针对特定阶段的支持干预的必要性。最高的确定需求，包括结直肠癌治疗和治疗阶段的不良事件，表明结直肠癌幸存者需要有关医疗保健系统内治疗的更多信息。

对实践的影响 

结直肠癌幸存者的特定需求因治疗阶段而异。需要反映每个治疗阶段需求的支持服务，以改善结直肠癌幸存者的身心健康和生活质量。