Antecedents of domain-specific quality of life after colorectal cancer
Author(s)
Steginga, Suzanne K
Lynch, Brigid M
Hawkes, Anna
Dunn, Jeff
Aitken, Joanne
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2009
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objective: The present study prospectively assessed the influence of medical, sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle variables on physical, social/family, emotional, functional well-being and colorectal cancer-specific concerns in a population-based sample of colorectal cancer survivors. Methods: Participants (n=1822) were assessed at 6 and 24 months post-diagnosis. Predictor variables assessed at 6 months included socio-demographic and medical variables, symptoms/side-effects, body mass index, physical activity, optimism, social support, and cancer threat appraisal. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 6 and 24 ...
View more >Objective: The present study prospectively assessed the influence of medical, sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle variables on physical, social/family, emotional, functional well-being and colorectal cancer-specific concerns in a population-based sample of colorectal cancer survivors. Methods: Participants (n=1822) were assessed at 6 and 24 months post-diagnosis. Predictor variables assessed at 6 months included socio-demographic and medical variables, symptoms/side-effects, body mass index, physical activity, optimism, social support, and cancer threat appraisal. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 6 and 24 months post-diagnosis using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C). Results: For each QOL subscale and for the overall FACT-C scale, 6 month scores were the strongest predictor of QOL scores at 24 months post-diagnosis (e.g. b=0.447, p o 0.001 for overall QOL). Socio-demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables, but not lifestyle variables, differentially predicted domain specific QOL. Only cancer threat appraisal was associated with all five QOL domains. Conclusion: Cancer threat appraisal presents as a potentially modifiable variable for interventions seeking to improve QOL. Symptom management and lifestyle strategies to ameliorate the effects of co-morbidities, disease stage and troublesome symptoms such as faecal incontinence on QOL should also be included.
View less >
View more >Objective: The present study prospectively assessed the influence of medical, sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle variables on physical, social/family, emotional, functional well-being and colorectal cancer-specific concerns in a population-based sample of colorectal cancer survivors. Methods: Participants (n=1822) were assessed at 6 and 24 months post-diagnosis. Predictor variables assessed at 6 months included socio-demographic and medical variables, symptoms/side-effects, body mass index, physical activity, optimism, social support, and cancer threat appraisal. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 6 and 24 months post-diagnosis using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Colorectal (FACT-C). Results: For each QOL subscale and for the overall FACT-C scale, 6 month scores were the strongest predictor of QOL scores at 24 months post-diagnosis (e.g. b=0.447, p o 0.001 for overall QOL). Socio-demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables, but not lifestyle variables, differentially predicted domain specific QOL. Only cancer threat appraisal was associated with all five QOL domains. Conclusion: Cancer threat appraisal presents as a potentially modifiable variable for interventions seeking to improve QOL. Symptom management and lifestyle strategies to ameliorate the effects of co-morbidities, disease stage and troublesome symptoms such as faecal incontinence on QOL should also be included.
View less >
Journal Title
Psycho-Oncology
Volume
18
Issue
2
Subject
Clinical sciences
Oncology and carcinogenesis
Cancer therapy (excl. chemotherapy and radiation therapy)