Top

Supportive Care in Cancer

Published in:

01-11-2007 | Original Article

The associations between living conditions, demography, and the ‘impact of cancer’ scale in tumor-free cancer survivors: a NOCWO study

Authors: Sævar B. Gudbergsson, Sophie D. Fosså, Patricia A. Ganz, Brad J. Zebrack, Alv A. Dahl

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 11/2007

Abstract

Goals of work

The “impact of cancer” scale (IOC) is a new questionnaire that explores attitudes in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual/existential domains in cancer survivors. This study explores the associations between demography, living conditions (LCs), and the IOC dimensions in disease-free Norwegian survivors who have been treated for breast, prostate, or testicular cancer.

Materials and methods

A questionnaire covering demography, LCs, and the IOC was mailed to 852 cancer survivors; 459 (54%) participated. A living condition index (LCI) was calculated based on self-reported education, employment, annual income, health, housing expenditures, and social participation.

Main results

Survivors with a low LCI level viewed their situation significantly worse on four of five negative IOC dimensions than those with high LCI level. No significant LCI-related differences were observed for the mean scores of positive IOC dimensions. Significant associations were observed between gender, health status, employment, and five to six IOC dimensions. LCs were more often associated with the negative IOC dimensions than the positive ones.

Conclusions

The significant associations between LCs and dimensions of the IOC in tumor-free cancer survivors show that LCs should be considered when health care professionals assist cancer survivors in dealing with the impact the cancer experience had on their lives.

Adams JM, White M (2004) Biological ageing: a fundamental, biological link between socioeconomic status and health. Eur J Public Health 14:331–334PubMedCrossRef

Arozullah AM, Calhoun EA, Wolf M, Finley DK, Fitzner KA, Heckinger EA, Gorby NS, Schumock GT, Bennett CL (2004) The financial burden of cancer: estimates from a study of insured women with breast cancer. J Support Oncol 3:271–278

Atkinson T, Cantillon B, Marlier E, Nolan B (2002) Social indicators. The EU and social inclusion. Oxford University Press, Oxford

Bjelland I, Dahl AA, Tangen Haug T, Neckelmann D (2002) The validity of the hospital anxiety and depression scale: an updated literature review. J Psychosom Res 52:69–77PubMedCrossRef

Bouchardy C, Verkooijen HM, Fioretta G (2006) Social class is an important prognostic factor of breast cancer mortality. Int J Cancer 5:1145–1151CrossRef

Bradley CJ, Bednarek HL, Neumark D (2002a) Breast cancer and women’s labour supply. Health Serv Res 37:1309–1328PubMedCrossRef

Bradley CJ, Bednarek HL, Neumark D (2002b) Breast cancer survival, work, and earnings. J Health Econ 21:757–779PubMedCrossRef

Bradley CJ, Neumark D, Bednarek HL, Schenk M (2005) Short-term effect of breast cancer on labor market attachment: results from a longitudinal study. J Health Econ 24:137–160PubMedCrossRef

Chirikos TN, Russel-Jacobs A, Cantor AB (2005) Indirect economic effect of long-term breast cancer survival. Cancer Pract 10:248–255CrossRef

10.

Clark EJ, Stovall EL (1996) Advocacy: the cornerstone of cancer survivorship. Cancer Pract 4:239–244PubMed

11.

Fayers P, Hays R (eds) (2005) Assessing quality of life in clinical trials: methods and practice. Oxford University Press, Oxford

12.

Gandek B, Ware JE Jr, Aaronson NK, Alonso J, Apolone G, Bjorner J, Brazier J, Bullinger M, Fukuhara S, Kaasa S, Leplege A, Sullivan M (1998) Tests of data quality, scaling assumptions, and reliability of the SF-36 in eleven countries: results from the IQOLA project. J Clin Epidemiol 11:1149–1158CrossRef

13.

Gudbergsson SB, Fosså SD, Borgeraas E, Dahl AA (2006) A comparative study of living conditions in cancer patients who have returned to work after curative treatment. Support Care Cancer 14:1020–1029PubMedCrossRef

14.

Kaffashian F, Godward S, Davies T, Solomon L, McCann J, Duffy SW (2003) Socioeconomic effects on breast cancer survival: proportion attributable to stage and morphology. Br J Cancer 89:1693–1696PubMedCrossRef

15.

Kravdal O (2000) Social inequalities in cancer survival. Popul Stud 54:1–18CrossRef

16.

Krokstad S, Westin S (2002) Health inequalities by socioeconomics status among men in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, Norway. Scand J Public Health 30:113–124PubMedCrossRef

17.

Lauzier S, Maunsell E, De Koninck M, Drolet M, Hèbert-Croteau N, Robert J (2005) Conceptualization and sources of costs from breast cancer: findings from patient and caregiver focus groups. Psychooncology 14:351–360PubMedCrossRef

18.

Lipscomb J, Gotay CC, Snyder C (eds) (2005) Outcomes assessment in cancer: measures, methods, and applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

19.

Main DS, Nowels CT, Cavender TA, Etschmaier M, Steiner JF (2005) A qualitative study of work and work return in cancer survivors. Psychooncology 14:992–1004PubMedCrossRef

20.

Marmot M (2002) The influence of income on health: views of an epidemiologist. Health Aff 21:31–46CrossRef

21.

Michelson H, Bolund C, Brandberg Y (2001) Multiple chronic health problems are negatively associated with health related quality of life (HRQoL) irrespective of age. Qual Life Res 9:1093–1104CrossRef

22.

Pollack LA, Greer GE, Rowland JH, Miller A, Doneski D, Coughlin SS, Stovall E, Ulman D (2005) Cancer survivorship: a new challenge in comprehensive cancer control. Cancer Causes Control 16(Suppl 1):51–59PubMedCrossRef

23.

Short PF, Mallonee EL (2006) Income disparities in the quality of life of cancer survivors. Med Care 44:16–23PubMedCrossRef

24.

Subhajit DR, Philip J, Javle P (2005) Trends in prostate cancer incidence and survival in various socioeconomic classes: a population-based study. Int J Urol 12:644–653CrossRef

25.

Statistics Norway (2005) Available at http://www.ssb.no

26.

Steiner JF, Cavender TA, Main DS, Bradley CJ (2004) Assessing the impact of cancer on work outcomes. What are the research needs? Cancer 8:1703–1711CrossRef

27.

Verbeek J, Spelten E, Kammeijer M, Spangers M (2003) Return to work of cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study into quality of rehabilitation by occupational physicians. Occup Environ Med 60:352–357PubMedCrossRef

28.

Ware JE Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD (1996) A 12-item short-form health survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care 13:220–233CrossRef

29.

Zebrack BJ, Ganz PA, Bernaards CA, Petersen L, Abraham L (2006) Assessing the impact of cancer: development of a new instrument for long-term survivors. Psychooncology 15:407–421PubMedCrossRef

Title: The associations between living conditions, demography, and the ‘impact of cancer’ scale in tumor-free cancer survivors: a NOCWO study
Authors: Sævar B. Gudbergsson
Sophie D. Fosså
Patricia A. Ganz
Brad J. Zebrack
Alv A. Dahl
Publication date: 01-11-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 11/2007
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0251-x

Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras

Prof. Fabrice Barlesi

Developed by: Springer Medicine

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Goals of work

Materials and methods

Main results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 11/2007

Developing supportive care for family members of people with lung cancer: a feasibility study

Palonosetron plus dexamethasone for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin chemotherapy for germ cell cancer

Usefulness of cutting needle biopsy in recurrent and advanced staged head and neck malignancies in a palliative setting

Measurement of oral mucositis in children: a review of the literature

A phase II trial of olanzapine, dexamethasone, and palonosetron for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a Hoosier oncology group study

Evaluation of the memorial delirium assessment scale (MDAS) for the screening of delirium by means of simulated cases by palliative care health professionals

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer