Gesundheitswesen 2017; 79(08/09): 656-804
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605832
Vorträge
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Psychosocial resources in long-term breast, colorectal and prostate cancer survivors: Prevalence and associations with health-related quality of life

D Doege
1   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Klinische Epidemiologie und Alternsforschung, AG Cancer Survivorship, Heidelberg
,
L Koch-Gallenkamp
2   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Klinische Epidemiologie und Alternsforschung, Heidelberg
,
A Waldmann
3   Universität zu Lübeck, Institut für Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie, Lübeck
,
H Brenner
2   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Klinische Epidemiologie und Alternsforschung, Heidelberg
4   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) und Nationales Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen (NCT), Heidelberg, Abteilung Präventive Onkologie, Heidelberg
5   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK), Heidelberg
,
V Arndt
2   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Klinische Epidemiologie und Alternsforschung, Heidelberg
1   Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Klinische Epidemiologie und Alternsforschung, AG Cancer Survivorship, Heidelberg
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
01 September 2017 (online)

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Purpose:

Due to treatment improvements, the number of cancer survivors has increased. Many of them have to adjust to possible adverse long-term consequences of the illness or its treatment. Psychosocial resources can play an important role in this adjustment process but research on this topic is limited. The objectives of the study are to explore, (1) which resources are most frequently indicated by different subgroups of cancer survivors, (2) what their particular role for functioning and health related quality of life (HRQL) is, and (3) to what extent the overall number of resources can explain HRQL variance in cancer survivors with and without a disease progression.

Methods:

The sample comprises a total of 6030 breast, colorectal and prostate cancer survivors (5 – 16 years past diagnosis) recruited in a German multi-regional population-based study (CAESAR). Resources were assessed by a checklist of 27 items; HRQL was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30. General linear models were used to analyze the association of resources with HRQL.

Results:

On average, cancer survivors indicated 11.4 (SD 5.1) resources as relevant. Family, activities with others, and partnership were most commonly indicated, but frequencies varied according to age, sex and tumor site. Physical activity, health, professional help, calmness, hope, optimism, and hobbies were most important for variance explanation of HRQL. The pattern of resources associated with HRQL differed for particular functioning scales and by age and sex. Cancer survivors with a disease progression and a big resource pool were found to report similar HRQL as survivors without disease progression and a small resource pool.

Conclusion:

Our study underlines the importance and situational variability of psychosocial resources for cancer survivors“ HRQL. The individual perception and significance of resources should be considered in follow-up cancer care.