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Cancer and Oncology Nursing

Psychosocial Support for Cancer Patients Practice Questions

27 free Psychosocial Support for Cancer Patients practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.

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Question 1 of 27 Medium

What type of psychosocial need is recognised when a newly diagnosed cancer patient expresses fear about their illness affecting their family’s finances and relationships?

  1. A Management of physical symptoms and treatment toxicity
  2. B Informational and practical support
  3. C Dietary and nutritional counselling needs
  4. D Hereditary risk and genetic counselling needs

Correct answer: Informational and practical support

Patients often face practical issues (finances, work, family roles) and informational needs; supporting these is part of psychosocial care.

Question 2 of 27 Medium

Which screening tool is recommended to identify psychosocial distress in cancer patients?

  1. A Body mass index (BMI) calculation
  2. B Distress Thermometer
  3. C Hemoglobin level
  4. D Visual acuity test

Correct answer: Distress Thermometer

The Distress Thermometer is a validated brief screening instrument to detect emotional distress in cancer patients.

Question 3 of 27 Medium

A patient undergoing cancer treatment reports persistent low mood, loss of interest, and poor sleep. These findings are most consistent with:

  1. A Mild treatment-related fatigue alone
  2. B Expected short-term adjustment to side-effects
  3. C Possible depression warranting assessment and referral
  4. D An isolated physical effect of chemotherapy

Correct answer: Possible depression warranting assessment and referral

Depression is common in patients with cancer and can negatively affect adherence and quality of life; assessment and referral are indicated.

Question 4 of 27 Medium

When a nurse communicates a poor prognosis to a patient and family, what is the most appropriate approach?

  1. A Relying on dense medical jargon to maximise precision
  2. B Withholding the prognosis to protect them from distress
  3. C Using clear language, allowing questions, and acknowledging emotions
  4. D Delivering the news quickly to get the disclosure over with

Correct answer: Using clear language, allowing questions, and acknowledging emotions

Effective communication is a key part of psychosocial care; clear, compassionate disclosure gives patients and families time to process and ask questions.

Question 5 of 27 Medium

For cancer survivors who continue to experience fear of recurrence, what is a useful psychosocial intervention?

  1. A Reassuring them the fear will simply fade with time
  2. B Psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioural strategies for anxiety
  3. C Advising them to feel grateful and stop dwelling on it
  4. D Offering only physical rehabilitation without psychological care

Correct answer: Psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioural strategies for anxiety

Survivors may have lasting psychosocial concerns; interventions like psychoeducation and CBT can reduce anxiety about recurrence.

Question 6 of 27 Medium

Which is the first step in the stepped-care model of psychosocial oncology support?

  1. A Intensive psychotherapy for all patients
  2. B Routine screening and primary care team support
  3. C Psychiatric referral for all newly diagnosed patients
  4. D No assessment unless requested by the patient

Correct answer: Routine screening and primary care team support

The model begins with systematic screening for distress and initial low-intensity interventions, escalating as needed.

Question 7 of 27 Medium

What is a commonly encountered barrier in delivering psychosocial support to cancer patients?

  1. A Consistently easy patient access to support services
  2. B Limited staff training in psychosocial assessment
  3. C Patients reliably accepting support when it is offered
  4. D Abundant funding and resources for psychosocial care

Correct answer: Limited staff training in psychosocial assessment

A common barrier is healthcare staff’s lack of confidence or training in assessing psychosocial distress and making referrals.

Question 8 of 27 Medium

What should a nurse prioritise when planning a psychosocial care intervention for a teenager undergoing cancer treatment?

  1. A Treat them exactly as an adult with no developmental adaptation
  2. B Address developmental, peer, and body-image concerns of adolescence
  3. C Focus only on treatment side-effects and skip emotional issues
  4. D Exclude family from discussions since adolescents act independently

Correct answer: Address developmental, peer, and body-image concerns of adolescence

Psychosocial support must be tailored to developmental stage; adolescents have unique concerns about peer support, identity, and body image.

Question 9 of 27 Medium

What is a recognised benefit of effective psychosocial support for cancer patients and families?

  1. A Better treatment adherence, quality of life, and possibly survival
  2. B A guaranteed cure of the underlying cancer
  3. C No measurable effect on the patient's overall experience
  4. D Benefit for family members but none for the patient

Correct answer: Better treatment adherence, quality of life, and possibly survival

Research shows that addressing psychosocial needs improves treatment adherence, quality of life, and may influence outcomes in cancer care.

Question 10 of 27 Easy

Which type of psychosocial need is recognised when a newly diagnosed cancer patient expresses fear about how their illness will affect their family's finances and relationships?

  1. A Management of physical symptoms and treatment toxicity
  2. B Informational and practical support
  3. C Dietary and nutritional counselling needs
  4. D Hereditary risk and genetic counselling needs

Correct answer: Informational and practical support

Patients often face practical issues (finances, work, family roles) and informational needs; supporting these is part of psychosocial care.

Question 11 of 27 Medium

A patient undergoing cancer treatment reports ongoing sadness, loss of interest in activities, and poor sleep. The nurse recognises these signs as most consistent with:

  1. A Mild treatment-related fatigue alone
  2. B Expected short-term adjustment to side-effects
  3. C Possible depression warranting assessment and referral
  4. D An isolated physical effect of chemotherapy

Correct answer: Possible depression warranting assessment and referral

Depression is common in patients with cancer and can negatively affect adherence and quality of life; assessment and referral are indicated.

Question 12 of 27 Easy

The family caregiver of a cancer patient states they feel isolated and overwhelmed. The nurse's best response is:

  1. A "You should manage this on your own and stay strong."
  2. B "Let's look at what support is available to you."
  3. C "Only the patient needs support, not the family members."
  4. D "It's best to focus on medical facts rather than feelings."

Correct answer: "Let's look at what support is available to you."

Caregivers also have psychosocial needs; it is appropriate to assess and refer them for support.

Question 13 of 27 Easy

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about social support for cancer patients?

  1. A It becomes relevant only after active treatment has ended.
  2. B Greater social support links to better emotional outcomes and survival.
  3. C It is unimportant when weighed against medical treatment.
  4. D It refers only to the provision of financial assistance.

Correct answer: Greater social support links to better emotional outcomes and survival.

Studies indicate that strong social support networks improve quality of life and can positively impact outcomes in cancer care.

Question 14 of 27 Medium

When a nurse communicates a poor prognosis to a patient and family, the most appropriate approach includes:

  1. A Relying on dense medical jargon to maximise precision.
  2. B Withholding the prognosis to protect them from distress.
  3. C Using clear language, allowing questions, and acknowledging emotions.
  4. D Delivering the news quickly to get the disclosure over with.

Correct answer: Using clear language, allowing questions, and acknowledging emotions.

Effective communication is a key part of psychosocial care; clear, compassionate disclosure gives patients and families time to process and ask questions.

Question 15 of 27 Medium

In the stepped-care model of psychosocial oncology support, the first step typically is:

  1. A Intensive psychotherapy for all patients
  2. B Routine screening and primary care team support
  3. C Psychiatric referral for all newly diagnosed patients
  4. D No assessment unless requested by the patient

Correct answer: Routine screening and primary care team support

The model begins with systematic screening for distress and initial low-intensity interventions, escalating as needed.

Question 16 of 27 Easy

A patient expresses guilt about being a 'burden' to their family. The nurse recognises this as which psychosocial theme?

  1. A Purely a physical symptom of the disease
  2. B Existential or spiritual distress
  3. C A sign of financial distress only
  4. D A treatment-related nutrition problem

Correct answer: Existential or spiritual distress

Feelings of guilt, burden, meaning, and existential questions are part of psychosocial and spiritual distress in oncology.

Question 17 of 27 Easy

What is a barrier often encountered in delivering psychosocial support to cancer patients?

  1. A Consistently easy patient access to support services
  2. B Limited staff training in psychosocial assessment
  3. C Patients reliably accepting support when it is offered
  4. D Abundant funding and resources for psychosocial care

Correct answer: Limited staff training in psychosocial assessment

A common barrier is healthcare staff’s lack of confidence or training in assessing psychosocial distress and making referrals.

Question 18 of 27 Medium

When planning a psychosocial care intervention for a teenager undergoing cancer treatment, what should the nurse prioritise?

  1. A Treat them exactly as an adult with no developmental adaptation
  2. B Address developmental, peer, and body-image concerns of adolescence
  3. C Focus only on treatment side-effects and skip emotional issues
  4. D Exclude family from discussions since adolescents act independently

Correct answer: Address developmental, peer, and body-image concerns of adolescence

Psychosocial support must be tailored to developmental stage; adolescents have unique concerns about peer support, identity, and body image.

Question 19 of 27 Medium

A nurse caring for an older adult with cancer notes increased anxiety and difficulty coping. Best psychosocial action is to:

  1. A Disregard concerns that are related to the patient's age
  2. B Offer age-appropriate interventions such as adapted CBT or phone support
  3. C Assume older adults rarely need any emotional support
  4. D Monitor only for the patient's physical problems

Correct answer: Offer age-appropriate interventions such as adapted CBT or phone support

Older adults with cancer often have elevated distress and may benefit from tailored psychosocial interventions.

Question 20 of 27 Easy

During treatment, a patient says 'I feel like no one understands what I’m going through.' The nurse suggests joining a support group. What is the main benefit of support groups here?

  1. A Access to financial counselling resources only
  2. B A route to obtain prescription medication
  3. C Peer connection, shared coping, and emotional validation
  4. D A weaker substitute for individual therapy

Correct answer: Peer connection, shared coping, and emotional validation

Support groups provide emotional support from peers, reduce isolation, and help patients learn from others’ coping strategies.

Question 21 of 27 Easy

On discharge planning for a cancer patient, the nurse includes referral to a psychosocial service. This reflects recognition that psychosocial care is:

  1. A Optional and provided only when the patient requests it
  2. B Integral to comprehensive cancer care and offered routinely
  3. C Irrelevant unless a formal psychiatric diagnosis is present
  4. D Reserved solely for patients in end-of-life care

Correct answer: Integral to comprehensive cancer care and offered routinely

Guidelines emphasise that psychosocial care is an integral part of oncology care and should be routinely offered.

Question 22 of 27 Medium

A spouse of a patient with advanced cancer is experiencing sleep problems, irritability, and weight loss. The nurse recognises this may indicate:

  1. A Normal adjustment that needs no particular intervention
  2. B Caregiver distress needing assessment and possible support
  3. C A problem belonging to the patient rather than the spouse
  4. D A purely physical illness unrelated to caregiving

Correct answer: Caregiver distress needing assessment and possible support

Caregivers often have significant psychosocial burden and should be assessed and offered support.

Question 23 of 27 Easy

Which statement about cultural considerations in psychosocial support for cancer patients is correct?

  1. A Cultural background has no bearing on psychosocial responses.
  2. B Cultural beliefs shape how patients experience and seek help for distress.
  3. C Nurses should use one uniform approach regardless of culture.
  4. D Only the medical treatment matters, not the patient's culture.

Correct answer: Cultural beliefs shape how patients experience and seek help for distress.

Cultural factors influence patients’ coping, expression of distress, and preferences for support; culturally sensitive care is important.

Question 24 of 27 Easy

A nurse uses therapeutic communication with a cancer patient by saying: 'You seem worried about what treatment will do to your life. Would you like to tell me more about that?' This approach is an example of:

  1. A Offering direct advice about what to do
  2. B Exploring the patient's feelings and concerns
  3. C Steering the conversation to another topic
  4. D Minimising the emotion the patient expressed

Correct answer: Exploring the patient's feelings and concerns

Using open-ended statements to explore feelings demonstrates supportive psychosocial nursing practice.

Question 25 of 27 Medium

After treatment ends, a survivor expresses fear about recurrence and changes in identity. The nurse knows this falls under:

  1. A A need for physical rehabilitation alone
  2. B Survivorship psychosocial care and monitoring
  3. C An absence of psychosocial needs once treatment ends
  4. D Routine follow-up for side-effects only

Correct answer: Survivorship psychosocial care and monitoring

Survivorship includes ongoing psychosocial needs such as fear of recurrence, identity change, and social reintegration.

Question 26 of 27 Easy

A hospital oncology unit works to embed psychosocial services into routine care rather than as a separate referral only. This model is called:

  1. A Separate referral-based care model
  2. B Integrated psychosocial care model
  3. C Ad-hoc counselling-only care model
  4. D Physical-only treatment care model

Correct answer: Integrated psychosocial care model

Integrated models embed psychosocial services into the oncology care pathway, reducing barriers and improving access.

Question 27 of 27 Easy

Which outcome is a recognized benefit of effective psychosocial support for cancer patients and families?

  1. A Better adherence, quality of life, possibly survival
  2. B A guaranteed, complete cure of the cancer
  3. C No measurable effect on the patient's experience
  4. D Benefit only for families, never the patient

Correct answer: Better adherence, quality of life, possibly survival

Research shows that addressing psychosocial needs improves treatment adherence, quality of life, and may influence outcomes in cancer care.

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