Exploring prostate cancer survivors' self-management behaviours and examining the mechanism effect that links coping and social support to health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression: a prospective longitudinal study

Effects on Quality of Life and Self-Efficacy of Instant Messaging Services in Self-Management Programs for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men worldwide. Management options include active surveillance, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, while self-management and behavioral interventions have shown promise in improving health-promoting behaviors and addressing barriers to care. Mobile health interventions, particularly instant messaging platforms, offer a growing opportunity for effective therapeutic support, but evidence on their role in self-management remains limited. The objective was to investigate the efficacy of self-management interventions based on instant messaging on quality of life and self-efficacy in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A search was conducted of three databases from their inception to November 2024. Randomized controlled trials were included. Two reviewers performed independent data extraction and methodologic quality assessment of the studies. Results: A total of seven studies were included in the review. Instant messaging interventions were recognized by a previously published taxonomy of collaborative technologies. The meta-analysis showed that self-management interventions based on instant messaging have an effect on quality of life and self-efficacy. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the potential benefits of self-management interventions incorporating instant messaging for improving quality of life and self-efficacy in prostate cancer patients.

Role of emotional control on anxiety and stress among cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

The article aims to assess the role of stress and anxiety in relation to the level of emotional control among cancer patients. Currently cancer ranks second, after cardiovascular disease, as the most common cause of death. Moreover, it is predicted that in the coming years, cancer will become the leading cause of death worldwide. This is due to the extended lifespan of the population and also to the presence of carcinogenic factors in the surrounding environment. The emergence of cancer is a significant stressor that affects individuals in diverse ways, leading to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional consequences. In line with the adopted aim, emotional issues are the chosen area of exploration in this article.

METHODS

The study included 102 patients. The differences between the patients' results according to various scales and the results produced by the validation group data were examined using one-sample t-tests. The relationships between the quantitative variables were determined using Spearman's rho coefficients, and the relationships between the quantitative and qualitative variables were verified using Kruskal-Wallis tests.

RESULTS

The participants exhibited higher anxiety suppression levels than individuals in the normalization group. They sought emotional support more frequently than the average person in the population, turned to religion, engaged in other such activities, lived in denial more often, discontinued activities, and displayed a sense of humor less frequently. The more frequently they controlled their anger, the less they sought emotional and instrumental support, catharsis, and attempted to accept the situation and cease being active. Additionally, controlling anxiety, sadness, and depression coexisted with self-blame, denial, and compensatory actions.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer patients face intense anxiety. Emotional and instrumental support, along with the ability to express and manage emotions, are crucial for these patients, especially within the context of facing the challenge of cancer. Finding constructive ways to express strong and difficult emotions prevents their accumulation and reduces the need for emotional suppression. Preventive actions should be oriented toward supporting the emotional competencies of patients.

Cancer patients' participation and commitment to psychological interventions: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Some psychological interventions have been developed to improve cancer patients' and survivors' quality of life, well-being, and health engagement. However, studies are usually focused on effectiveness and less on factors influencing survivors' decision to participate, both subjective (e.g., needs) and contingent (e.g., factors related to participation/non participation). This scoping review identifies factors influencing participation, decline to participate, attrition and adherence in psychological interventions.

METHODS

3 electronic databases were searched for published studies on psychological interventions. Retrieved publications were scanned by authors against inclusion criteria and forty-two articles were selected. Relevant information were summarized narratively.

RESULTS

More information is available on attrition and factors related to participation/non participation, so that future psychological interventions may employ ad-hoc tools to take into consideration patients' reasons to adhere to psychological interventions. Secondarily, non-participation/dropout is often linked to factors related to intervention' commitment and its interference with daily life. On the contrary, patients' reasons to participate often identify with the value they find in the intervention according to their personal needs and experience of illness.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that future research should analyze patients' representation of psychological interventions and take them into account to tailor the interventions on participants' lived experience, to improve participation.

Symptom burden profiles in men with advanced prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy

To identify symptom burden profiles among men with advanced prostate cancer undergoing androgen-deprivation therapy and examine their association with baseline sociodemographic and medical characteristics and psychosocial outcomes over time. Latent profile analysis was employed to identify distinct groups based on the Expanded Prostate Index Composite and the McGill Pain Questionnaire at baseline. Psychosocial outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Three profiles emerged: "high symptom burden," "high sexual bother," and "low symptom burden." Men with "high symptom burden" were younger and exhibited higher baseline levels of depression, stress, cancer-specific distress, and anxiety than men in the other two groups. However, men with "high symptom burden" also demonstrated improvement in these psychosocial outcomes over time. Men with advanced prostate cancer who experience multiple co-occurring symptoms demonstrate worse psychosocial adjustment. Patients with substantial symptom burden, and specifically young men, may benefit from prompt referral to supportive care services.

Social support, anxiety, and depression in patients with prostate cancer: complete mediation of self-efficacy

BACKGROUND

Social support and self-efficacy are important factors to improve negative emotions such as depression and anxiety in patients with prostate cancer after surgery; however, little is known about the relationship between them. The objective of the study was to comprehensively explore the relationship between social support, self-efficacy, and anxiety and depression.

METHOD

A cross-sectional design and a convenience sampling method were used to recruit patients with prostate cancer from a comprehensive hospital in Zhejiang Province. Structured scales were used for data collection, including the Social Support Rating Scale, Strategies Used by People to Promote Health, and the hospital anxiety and depression scale.

RESULTS

The result showed that anxiety and depression were negatively correlated with self-efficacy (r =  - 0. 434, P < 0. 01) and social support (r =  - 0. 212, P < 0. 01), while self-efficacy and social support were positively correlated (r = 0. 356, P < 0. 01). A structural equation model showed that the effect value of social support on self-efficacy was (β = 0.386, p < 0.01) and the effect value of self-efficacy on negative emotions was (β =  - 0.497, p < 0.01). Self-efficacy fully mediated the effect between social support and negative emotions with a 100% mediation rate.

CONCLUSION

Social support and self-efficacy did contribute to the improvement of depression and anxiety in patients with radical prostatectomy, and they were associated with a full mediating effect of self-efficacy. Providing social support that matches the coping needs of the stressor can maximize the role of social support. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the patient's stressor and coping needs in advance, which will help us to provide matching social support, so as to alleviate patients' bad emotions more effectively and improve their prognosis.

Influence of social networks on cancer survivors' self-management support: A mixed methods study

Objective

The role of social networks, especially weaker ties (e.g. casual acquaintances and hobby groups), in self‐management of long‐term consequences of cancer is unexplored. This study aimed to explore the structure of cancer survivors' social networks and their contribution to self‐management support and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

The study used a sequential, exploratory mixed methods design. Phase 1 surveyed 349 lymphoma, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer survivors. Phase 2 analysed 20 semi‐structured interviews with respondents recruited from Phase 1.

Results

Phase 1 results suggested participants' HRQoL increased if they participated in an exercise group, if their self‐management skills increased, and social distress and negative illness perception decreased (p < 0.0005 adj. R² = 0.631). These findings were explored in Phase 2, identifying underlying mechanisms. Four themes were identified: disrupted networks after cancer treatment; navigating formal support and building individual capacity; peer networks and self‐management knowledge and linking networks to enable adaptation in recovery.

Conclusions

This study suggests engagement with community groups, particularly those not directly related to illness management and social interaction with weak ties, make a valuable contribution to self‐management support, increase HRQoL and enhance well‐being.

Depressive symptoms, social support, and health-related quality of life: A community-based study in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms erode both physical and mental aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Social support (SS) may improve HRQoL through its direct effects or buffering effects. The association among depressive symptoms, SS, and HRQoL has been studied in specific groups, but research in the general adult population remains limited. This study examined the association among depressive symptoms, SS, and HRQoL, including exploring whether SS (including its three dimensions: subjective SS, objective SS and support utilization) mediated or moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and HRQoL among community-based adults.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in six communities in Shanghai, China, and 1642 adult participants with complete information on depressive symptoms and/or SS, and HRQoL were included. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association among depressive symptoms, SS, and HRQoL. In addition, we explored the mediating and moderating role of SS in the relationship between depressive symptoms and HRQoL.

RESULTS

More depressive symptoms were associated with lower physical HRQoL (B = -0.64, p < .001) and lower mental HRQoL (B = -0.83, p < .001). SS (B = 0.07, p = .02), specifically subjective SS (B = 0.09, p = .03), was positively related to mental HRQoL. After adjusting for covariates, we found no evidence for a mediating role of SS in the relationship between depressive symptoms and HRQoL, while SS (subjective SS and objective SS) moderated the association between depressive symptoms and mental HRQoL.

LIMITATIONS

Due to the low voluntary participation rate of employees, participants represented approximately 50% of the individuals approached, thus limiting the generalizability of our findings. Data collected through self-report scales could lead to information bias.

CONCLUSIONS

SS does not appear to underlie the relationship between depressive symptoms and HRQoL. However, interventions to increase SS (in particular, subjective SS and objective SS) should be studied to determine whether they may be beneficial in alleviating the adverse impact of depressive symptoms on mental HRQoL.

The Effect of an Information Support Program on Self-Efficacy of Prostate Cancer Patients during Hormonal Therapy

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an information support program on the self-efficacy (SE) of prostate cancer (PCa) patients receiving hormonal therapy (HT).

METHODS

Based on the information support program constructed in a previous study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted in a cancer hospital in Shanghai, China. One hundred subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was provided routine care and communication, and the experimental group participated in an informational support program. Three months later, the following outcomes were compared between the two groups: information acquisition, disease knowledge mastery, SE, healthy behavior adherence, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare the differences between the two groups, and intention-to-treat analysis was used to increase the reliability of the results.

RESULTS

After the intervention, information acquisition, disease knowledge mastery, and the SE and healthy behavior adherence of the experimental group were significantly increased compared with the control group, whereas the HRQoL and PSA did not significantly differ from that observed in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that information support programs improve information acquisition, disease knowledge mastery, SE, and healthy behavior adherence among PCa patients receiving HT.

Effectiveness of mobile health-based self-management interventions in breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To determine the effectiveness of mobile health-based self-management interventions on medical/behavioral, role, and emotional management in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

The Embase, MEDLINE, SINOMED, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, and Weipu (VIP) databases were extensively searched from inception to November 30, 2020, to identify eligible clinical trials. Outcomes included medical/behavioral management (self-management behavior, functional exercise compliance, self-efficacy, complications, and symptoms), role management (role functioning), and emotional management (anxiety and depression), social support, and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that mobile health-based self-management interventions could potentially improve breast cancer patients' self-management behavior, functional exercise compliance (WMD = 15.80, 95% CI = 10.53 to 21.08, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (SMD = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.87, P < 0.001), and health-related quality of life (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.44 to 1.12, P < 0.001); reduce the incidence of lymphedema (RR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.15 to 0.26, P < 0.001); and relieve the level of anxiety (SMD =  - 0.67, 95% CI =  - 0.99 to - 0.35, P < 0.001). However, patients assigned to the mobile health group and the conventional care group did not differ significantly in symptom relief (including pain and fatigue), role functioning, depression, or social support (all P ≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Mobile health-based self-management interventions can potentially facilitate the self-management and health-related quality of life of breast cancer patients.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Associated Factors in Prostate Cancer Patients Who Receive Androgen Deprivation Therapy

BACKGROUND

Presently, few studies have examined the impact of positive thinking on the HRQoL of prostate cancer patients who receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

OBJECTIVES

We explored the factors that affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL), particularly positive thinking, of prostate cancer patients who receive ADT.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used. A total of 132 prostate cancer patients, drawn from outpatient clinics of 2 medical centers, who were receiving ADT were included. Structured questionnaires, including a basic information sheet, the Positive Thinking Scale, Social Support Scale, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P), were used for data collection. Statistical analysis was performed by using independent-sample t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression.

RESULTS

Prostate cancer patients who were receiving ADT were more likely to engage in positive thinking, which was correlated with better social/family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being, prostate cancer concern, and a higher score on the FACT-P. Improved self-reported health status was correlated better with all subdimensions of HRQoL and better scores on the FACT-P. Greater social support was correlated with high social/family well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive thinking, self-reported health status, and social support are important associated factors of HRQoL in prostate cancer patients who receive ADT.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Oncology nurses can improve HRQoL by improving positive thinking, self-reported health status, and social support of prostate cancer patients who receive ADT.

A systematic review of studies describing the influence of informal social support on psychological wellbeing in people bereaved by sudden or violent causes of death

BACKGROUND

Whilst any type of bereavement can be traumatic, bereavement through violent or sudden causes is associated with more severe negative health and wellbeing outcomes compared to other types of loss. Social support has been found to have a positive impact on wellbeing after traumatic events in general. However, this association appears to be less consistently demonstrated in studies that focus on bereavement, and the literature in this area has not yet been systematically reviewed. This study aimed to review the international literature to examine systematically whether there is an association between informal social support from family and friends after bereavement through sudden and/or violent causes and post-bereavement wellbeing.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search for quantitative studies that tested for an association between social support and any outcome related to wellbeing after a sudden and/or violent loss. Included studies were assessed for quality, and findings were reported using the approach of narrative synthesis. The review was pre-registered on Prospero (registration number CRD42018093704).

RESULTS

We identified 16 papers that met inclusion criteria, 11 of which we assessed as being of good or fair quality and 5 as poor quality. Fifteen different wellbeing outcomes were measured across all studies. We found consistent evidence for an inverse association between social support and symptoms/presence of depression, predominantly consistent evidence for an inverse association between social support and symptoms/presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and conflicting evidence for an inverse association between social support and symptoms/presence of complicated grief.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review identified evidence to suggest that social support after sudden or violent bereavement is associated with a reduced severity of depressive and PTSD symptoms. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore potential causality in this relationship, widening the focus from common mental disorders to include other mental illnesses, wellbeing outcomes, and suicide-related outcomes after bereavement. There is also a need for consensus on the conceptualisation and measurement of social support. Our findings imply that interventions to improve access to and quality of social support may reduce the burden of mental illness after bereavement, and may therefore be worth investing in.

Post-traumatic growth among gastrointestinal oncological patients: the perspective of Stevan Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory

Background

This study assessed the relation between social support dimensions and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among a sample of gas-trointestinal cancer patients. Particular focus was placed on the mediating role of resources based on the conservation of re-sources (COR) theory and its effect on the previously mentioned association.

Participants and procedure

A total of 190 patients comprising 87 females and 103 males with a clinical diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer were recruited to participate in this study. This was a cross-sectional study, with social support evaluated by the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS). The participants’ levels of subjectively possessed resources were assessed by the Conservation of Resources Evalua-tion (COR-E) questionnaire. Posttraumatic growth was evaluated by the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI).

Results

No direct relation was found between social support and PTG among participants. However, a mediating role of subjectively possessed resources was detected through the COR theory on the aforementioned relationship, i.e. the link between social sup-port and PTG. More specifically, the level of economic and political resources was a mediator in the relation.

Conclusions

These results contribute to extant literature on the psychological aspects of gastrointestinal cancer. Evidently, social support may be related to positive outcomes among gastrointestinal cancer patients in the form of PTG.

Factors Affecting the Severity of Fatigue during Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer; an Exploratory Study

INTRODUCTION

Limited studies have examined potential risk factors associated with the fatigue experience of a sample of Puerto Rican men treated with radiotherapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer. Identifying these factors may provide initial information about targets for individualized interventions, leading to more effective management of fatigue in this population.

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship of age, body max index, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and sleep disturbance with fatigue during radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

METHODS

Twenty six participants completed five inventories: demographic intake, health form, the Functional Assessment of Cancer-Therapy-fatigue, Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Information System-Sleep disturbance, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form before, middle/days 19-21 and completion/days 38-42 of radiotherapy. The principal investigator rated the Hamilton depression scale. Descriptive statistics were performed. Interactions and influence of variables on fatigue were assessed using bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression, respectively.

RESULTS

At each study time point, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms were strongly correlated with each other and fatigue. The linear combination of sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms was significantly related to fatigue.

CONCLUSION

Given the high association of sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms with fatigue, clinicians should assess and develop interventions to manage these symptoms altogether.

The Cost of Bottling It Up: Emotion Suppression as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Anger and Depression Among Men with Prostate Cancer

Background

Prostate cancer is a risk factor for major depressive disorder. Recent psycho-oncology research suggests a potential role for male-specific mood-related symptoms in this relationship. Gender socialisation experiences may reinforce men's anger and emotion suppression responses in times of distress, and anger and emotion suppression may be implicated in pathways to, and maintenance of depression in prostate cancer.

Patients and Methods

Data were collected online from men with a self-reported diagnosis of prostate cancer (N=100; mean age 64.8 years). Respondents provided information regarding diagnosis and treatment, in addition to current experience of major depression and male-specific externalising symptoms.

Results

Prostate cancer diagnosis in the last 12 months occurred for 35.4% of the sample. Elevated major depression symptoms were observed for 49% of respondents, with 14% endorsing past 2-week suicide ideation. Parallel mediation analysis (99% CIs) controlling for prostatectomy and active surveillance indicated men's emotion suppression mediated the relationship between anger and depression symptoms (R ²=0.580). Trichotimised emotion suppression scores with control variables yielded a large multivariate effect (p<0.001, partial η ²=0.199). Univariate moderate-sized effects were observed for emotion suppression comparisons for symptoms of depressed mood and sleep disturbance, and a large effect observed for guilt-proneness.

Conclusion

Findings highlight the salience of anger in the experience of depression symptoms for men with prostate cancer. The mediating role of emotion suppression, which in turn was strongly linked to men's feelings of guilt, suggests potential assessment and intervention targets. Future work should examine the role of androgen deprivation therapy and other treatments including active surveillance on the relationship between anger and depression in men with prostate cancer. Consideration of interventions focused on emotion processing skills in psycho-oncology settings may help reduce men's reliance on emotion suppression as a strategy for coping with feelings of anger or guilt in the context of prostate cancer.

Impact of social support on psychosocial symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients: results of a multilevel model approach from a longitudinal multicenter study

Background: This prospective multicenter study aimed to investigate the courses of positive support (PS) and detrimental interaction (DI), two different aspects of social support, and the relation between social support and psychosocial distress and/or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a large sample of patients with different cancers. Methods: For this observational study, we enrolled adult patients with cancer from 13 comprehensive cancer centers (CCCs) in Germany. We included a total of 1087 patients in our analysis. We assessed the outcomes via standardized self-report questionnaires at three measurement points: at admission for acute care (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) thereafter. Our outcome variables included PS and DI, depression and anxiety symptoms, distress, mental quality of life (MQoL) and physical QoL (PQoL). Data were analyzed using three-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and group-based trajectory modeling. Results: During the first year after the cancer diagnosis, both PS and DI decreased in our sample. Baseline depression symptom severity was a significant predictor of PS and DI. Further analyses revealed significant associations between PS, DI and the course of depression and anxiety symptoms, and MQoL. PS buffered the negative effects of DI with regards to these variables. Low DI was associated with better PQoL, whereas PS was not. In general, the impact of social support on psychosocial outcomes was weak to moderate. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the influence of PS and DI on psychosocial symptoms and HRQOL, and emphasize the importance of psycho-oncological interventions that strengthen PS and prevent or reduce DI for patients with cancer and their relatives.

An ecological momentary assessment of self-management in prostate cancer survivors

PURPOSE

To assess the 'real-time' self-management strategies employed by prostate cancer survivors to inform personalised supportive care interventions in the future.

METHOD

A purposive sampling framework was used to recruit men with different stages of cancer and treatment to an ecological momentary assessment (capturing experiences in real time) study. Each participant was prompted by an audio alert to complete self-report questionnaires three times per day (93 data entries in total) for a total duration of 31 days. The personal digital assistant (PDA) and pocket interview software were used.

RESULTS

Prostate cancer survivors experienced a wide range of after-effects of therapy for which they used various self-management strategies. Many of the men experienced sexual dysfunction but did not perform any self-management.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reinforce the importance of having access to tailored, timely and person-centred supported self-management care plans. Real-time monitoring data can provide helpful information to facilitate tailored recommendations for self-management.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Prostate cancer survivors can experience unmet supportive care needs which may increase men's demands to perform self-management of their condition. Future clinical intervention studies aimed at utilising the remote exchange of real-time data serves to optimise tailored supported self-management.

Health Literacy Among Canadian Men Experiencing Prostate Cancer

The objective was to describe the health literacy of a sample of Canadian men with prostate cancer and explore whether sociodemographic and health factors were related to men's health literacy scores. A sample of 213 Canadian men (M age = 68.71 years, SD = 7.44) diagnosed with prostate cancer were recruited from an online prostate cancer support website. The men completed the Health Literacy Questionnaire along with demographic, comorbidity, and prostate cancer treatment-related questions online. Of the 5-point scales, men's health literacy scores were highest for "Understanding health information enough to know what to do" (M = 4.04, SD = 0.48) and lowest for "Navigating the health care system" (M = 3.80, SD = 0.58). Of the 4-point scales, men's scores were highest for "Feeling understood and supported by health care professionals" (M = 3.20, SD = 0.52) and lowest for "Having sufficient information to manage my health" (M = 2.97, SD = 0.46). Regression analyses indicated that level of education was positively associated with health literacy scores, and men without comorbidities had higher health literacy scores. Age and years since diagnosis were unrelated to health literacy. Support in health system navigation and self-management of health may be important targets for intervention.

Health-related quality of life in patients with prostate cancer and their spouses: Results from a longitudinal study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore changes in HRQoL (health-related quality of life) and identify the associated factors in patients with prostate cancer and their spouses during the year following their diagnosis of prostate cancer.

METHODS

The longitudinal study design consisted of 179 patients and 166 spouses, using discretionary sampling, at five Finnish central hospitals. Participants completed a self-reported RAND-36-Item Health Survey at three time-points: time of diagnosis and 6 and 12 months later. Changes in HRQoL were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Linear mixed-effects models were used to identify the factors associated with the changes in HRQoL in the patients and their spouses.

RESULTS

On average, the HRQoL of patients with prostate cancer changed in physical functioning (p = 0.015), emotional well-being (p = 0.029) and general health (p = 0.038) were statistically significant over the 12-month study period. In spouses, statistically significant changes in HRQoL were not observed. Interaction between the age of participants and changes in HRQoL were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings in this study suggest that interventions aimed at improving the HRQoL of patients should support a few different dimensions of HRQoL for the patients themselves than for their spouses. Nurses should pay more attention to elderly couples.

Social Support and Pain Outcomes After Trauma Exposure Among Older Adults: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVES

Certain forms of social support have been shown to improve pain-coping behaviors and pain outcomes in older adults with chronic pain, but little is known about the effect of social support on pain outcomes in older adults following trauma exposure.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a prospective longitudinal study of adults aged 65 years and older presenting to an emergency department after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) to characterize the relationship between perceived social support and MVC-related pain after trauma overall and by subgroups based on sex, depressive symptoms, and marital status.

RESULTS

In our sample (N=176), patients with low perceived social support had higher pain severity 6 weeks after MVC than patients with high perceived social support after adjustment for age, sex, race, and education (4.2 vs. 3.2, P=0.04). The protective effect of social support on pain severity at 6 weeks was more pronounced in men and in married individuals. Patients with low social support were less likely to receive an opioid prescription in the emergency department (15% vs. 32%, P=0.03), but there was no difference in opioid use at 6 weeks (22% vs. 20%, P=0.75).

DISCUSSION

Among older adults experiencing trauma, low perceived social support was associated with higher levels of pain at 6 weeks.

The function of fatigue and illness perceptions as mediators between self-efficacy and health-related quality of life during the first year after surgery in persons treated for colorectal cancer

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To measure changes in health-related quality of life, two dimensions of illness perceptions (i.e., consequences and emotional representations), fatigue and self-efficacy in persons treated for colorectal cancer during the first year after surgical treatment, and to study how fatigue, illness perceptions and self-efficacy measured at 3 months affect health-related quality of life at 12 months postsurgery.

BACKGROUND

There are fluctuations in health-related quality of life during the first year after treatment for colorectal cancer, and fatigue may negatively influence health-related quality of life. Illness perceptions (consequences and emotional representations) and self-efficacy have been shown to be associated with health-related quality of life in other cancer diagnoses. Concerning colorectal cancer, there is a lack of knowledge concerning how illness perceptions and self-efficacy change during recovery, and how these variables and fatigue at 3 months relate to health-related quality of life at 12 months.

DESIGN

A prospective longitudinal design.

METHODS

Thirty-nine persons surgically treated for colorectal cancer, of whom 17 had a colostomy, participated. Health-related quality of life, fatigue, illness perceptions and self-efficacy were assessed using QLQ-C30, the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Maintain Function Scale. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used.

RESULTS

No changes were reported in levels of health-related quality of life, fatigue or illness perceptions. Self-efficacy was lower at 12 months compared to 3 months. Fatigue and one dimension of illness perceptions mediated the effect of self-efficacy at 3 months on health-related quality of life at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Persons treated for colorectal cancer who have lower self-efficacy 3 months postsurgery are inclined to have more negative illness perceptions concerning emotions and to experience more fatigue.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses need to support persons with fatigue and negative illness perceptions concerning emotions and to bolster their self-efficacy, that is carry out follow-up consultations focusing on illness management, symptoms, emotions and information on ways to increase self-efficacy.

Unmet Supportive Care Needs of Men With Locally Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer on Hormonal Treatment: A Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Men affected by prostate cancer who are undergoing hormone therapy can endure a range of symptoms that can adversely affect quality of life. Little research has been conducted to date, to understand the specific unmet supportive care needs of this patient group within the context of current service delivery.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of unmet supportive care needs of men affected by prostate cancer on hormone therapy in the United Kingdom.

METHODS

Mixed methods study recruited 31 men with ≥T3 prostate Cancer or worse and treated by hormone therapy. A small cross-sectional survey (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] C30 and PR25, Self-Management Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Supportive Care Needs Survey) was used to inform the interview schedule. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and framework approach was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Complex unmet supportive care needs that were related to physical, psychological/emotional, intimacy/sexual, practical, health system/informational, existential, and patient/clinician communication needs are experienced. Men articulated that current healthcare delivery is failing to provide a holistic person-centered model of care.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the few studies that have identified the unmet supportive care needs of men receiving hormone therapy for ≥T3 prostate Cancer or worse. The needs are multiple and far-ranging.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Despite national cancer reforms, unmet supportive care needs persist. The findings from this study may be central in the re-design of future services to optimize men's quality of life and satisfaction with care. Clinicians are encouraged to use these finding to help them optimize care delivery and individual quality of life.

Association between social support and health-related quality of life among Chinese rural elders in nursing homes: the mediating role of resilience

PURPOSE

This study aims to confirm the relationship between social support and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among rural Chinese elders in nursing homes, and to examine the mediating role of resilience in the impact of social support on HRQOL.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 205 elders aged 60 and above was conducted in five rural public nursing homes. Sociodemographic characteristics, the SF-36 questionnaire, and information about social support and resilience were collected. The researchers administered the questionnaires to the participants in a face-to-face setting. Descriptive analysis and a correlation matrix were used to indicate characteristics of the participants and bivariate correlations, respectively. The mediation analyses, composed of regression analysis and PROCESS analysis, were preformed to test both direct and indirect effects of social support on HRQOL, namely the mediating role of resilience.

RESULTS

Social support was positively related to HRQOL (β = 0.303, p < 0.001) among Chinese rural elders in nursing homes. The mediating role of resilience in the relationship between social support and HRQOL was confirmed (a*b bootstrapped 95% confidence interval = [0.098, 0.257]), which revealed that social support had an indirect effect on HRQOL through resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Resilience partially mediates the relationship between social support and HRQOL. The mediation model provides a better understanding of how social support and resilience work together to affect HRQOL, and it could guide the interventions in health care for promoting HRQOL among Chinese rural elders in nursing homes.

Adherence to Report and Patient Perception of an Interactive App for Managing Symptoms During Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Descriptive Study of Logged and Interview Data

Background

Patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer experience symptoms related to both the cancer itself and its treatment, and it is evident that patients with prostate cancer have unmet supportive care needs related to their disease. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the amount of research within the field of mobile health and the use of apps as tools for managing illness. The main challenge is to develop a mobile technology to its full potential of being interactive in real time. The interactive app Interaktor, which aims to identify and manage symptoms in real time includes (1) a function for patients’ assessment of the occurrence, frequency, and distress of symptoms; (2) a connection to a monitoring Web interface; (3) a risk assessment model that sends alerts via text message to health care providers; (4) continuous access to evidence-based self-care advice and links to relevant websites for more information; and (5) graphs for the patients and health care providers to view the history of symptom reporting.

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate user behavior, adherence to reporting, and the patients’ experiences of using Interaktor during radiotherapy for localized advanced prostate cancer.

Methods

The patients were instructed to report daily during the time of treatment and then for an additional 3 weeks. Logged data from patients’ use of the app were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Interview data about experiences of using the app were analyzed with content analysis.

Results

A total of 66 patients participated in the study. Logged data showed that adherence to daily reporting of symptoms was high (87%). The patients used all the symptoms included in the app. Of the reports, 15.6% generated alerts to the health care providers. Overall, the patients found that it was easy and not particularly time-consuming to send a daily report, and many described it as becoming a routine. Reporting symptoms facilitated reflection on their symptoms and gave them a sense of security. Few technological problems were reported.

Conclusions

The use of Interaktor increased patients’ sense of security and their reflections on their own well-being and thereby served as a supportive tool for the self-management of symptoms during treatment of prostate cancer. Some further development of the app’s content might be beneficial for future use.

Colorectal cancer patient's self-efficacy for managing illness-related problems in the first 2 years after diagnosis, results from the ColoREctal Well-being (CREW) study

PURPOSE

There is a growing emphasis on self-management of cancer aftercare. Little is known about patient's self-efficacy (confidence) to manage illness-related problems and how this changes over time. This paper describes the patterns of self-efficacy for managing illness-related problems amongst colorectal cancer patients in the 2 years following diagnosis.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, questionnaires were administered at baseline (pre-surgery), 3, 9, 15 and 24 months to 872 colorectal cancer patients. Self-efficacy (confidence to manage illness-related problems), anxiety, social support, affect, socio-demographics, physical symptoms and clinical and treatment characteristics were assessed. Group-based trajectory analysis identified trajectories of self-efficacy up to 24 months and predictors.

RESULTS

Four trajectories of self-efficacy were identified: group 1 (very confident) 16.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.7-21.3%), group 2 (confident) 45.6% (95% CI 40.3-51.0%), group 3 (moderately confident) 29.5% (95% CI 25.1-33.8%) and group 4 (low confidence) 8.9% (95% CI 6.4-11.4%). Greater deprivation, domestic status, more co-morbidities, worse fatigue and pain, lower positivity and greater negativity were significantly associated with lower self-efficacy. There was an increase in mean scores for self-efficacy over time for the whole sample, but this did not reach the cut-off for minimally important differences. At 2 years, the lowest level of confidence to manage was for symptoms or health problems.

CONCLUSION

Around 40% of patients had suboptimal levels of confidence to manage illness-related problems with little change from the time of diagnosis across the four groups.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Screening for self-efficacy at diagnosis would enable targeted, early intervention which could in turn enhance health-related quality of life.

Typologies for Restructuring Relationships in Cancer Survivorship: Temporal Changes in Social Support and Engagement With Self-Management Practices

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors with good social support are generally more motivated to undertake self-management behaviors and make lifestyle changes. However, the impact of changes in social support over time, from prediagnosis through treatment and into survivorship, on the health and recovery of cancer survivors with a range of cancer diagnoses has not been explored.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine how temporal changes in social support offered to cancer survivors by family and friends influence their engagement with self-management practices and adaptation to lifestyle changes.

METHODS

The interview study took place in a teaching hospital in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. Forty participants were purposively sampled. A narrative approach to data collection was chosen, and data were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Six typologies of restructuring relationships postcancer were identified. A greater understanding of the changes to social relationships that a cancer diagnosis can incur and the impact of this on people's outlook and ability to self-manage was developed.

CONCLUSION

The restructuring of social relationships by cancer survivors over time can impact their outlook and ability to self-manage in survivorship, shaping their engagement with health promoting activities and reconciling cancer within the wider context of their lives.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Appropriate clinical nursing processes and tailored interventions are required to support cancer survivors and promote engagement with self-management practices. Nurses are a vital component of the social support that enables patients to make the best health and lifestyle choices available to them.

Perceived Stress in Online Prostate Cancer Community Participants: Examining Relationships with Stigmatization, Social Support Network Preference, and Social Support Seeking

Men with prostate cancer often need social support to help them cope with illness-related physiological and psychosocial challenges. Whether those needs are met depends on receiving support optimally matched to their needs. This study examined relationships between perceived stress, prostate cancer-related stigma, weak-tie support preference, and online community use for social support in a survey of online prostate cancer community participants (n = 149). Findings revealed a positive relationship between stigma and perceived stress. This relationship, however, was moderated by weak-tie support preference and online community use for social support. Specifically, stigma was positively related to perceived stress when weak-tie support was preferred. Analyses also showed a positive relationship between stigma and perceived stress in those who used their online community for advice or emotional support. Health communication scholars should work collaboratively with diagnosed men, clinicians, and online community administrators to develop online interventions that optimally match social support needs.

Perceived emotional social support in bereaved spouses mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

Prior research has shown that anxiety symptoms predict later depression symptoms following bereavement. Nevertheless, no research has investigated mechanisms of the temporal relationship between anxiety and later depressive symptoms or examined the impact of depressive symptoms on later anxiety symptoms following bereavement.

METHODS

The current study examined perceived emotional social support as a possible mediator between anxiety and depressive symptoms in a bereaved sample of older adults (N =250). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured at Wave 1 (immediately after bereavement), social support was measured at Wave 2 (18 months after bereavement), and anxiety and depressive symptoms were also measured at Wave 3 (48 months after bereavement).

RESULTS

Using Bayesian structural equation models, when controlling for baseline depression, anxiety symptoms significantly positively predicted depressive symptoms 48 months later, Further, perceived emotional social support significantly mediated the relationship between anxiety symptoms and later depressive symptoms, such that anxiety symptoms significantly negatively predicted later emotional social support, and emotional social support significantly negatively predicted later depressive symptoms. Also, when controlling for baseline anxiety, depressive symptoms positively predicted anxiety symptoms 48 months later. However, low emotional social support failed to mediate this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Low perceived emotional social support may be a mechanism by which anxiety symptoms predict depressive symptoms 48 months later for bereaved individuals.

Evaluating tumour after care in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Insights into patients' health related quality of life

INTRODUCTION

Tumour aftercare (tac) is an essential tool in oncology. The main aim of these follow ups is to diagnose recurrence and second tumours from the beginning. Tac appointments can create a special environment for patients' further concerns. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate tac of patients diagnosed with OSCC and to investigate their health related quality of life (hrql).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A German questionnaire was created by two maxillo-facial surgeons with several years of tac experience. It was handed out to 100 German-speaking OSCC patients during tac. Results were statistically evaluated with SPSS (SPSS version 21.0; SPSS, IBM; Chicago, IL, USA). The inclusion criterion was that diagnosis and surgery were performed at our department and that the patients attended our tac regularly.

RESULTS

Side effects such as difficulties in speaking and swallowing were evaluated as being significantly higher in cases who were administered adjuvant radiochemotherapy (art) compared with the surgical therapy group (stg) (p = 0.03). Anxiety occurred in 80% of all female patients (p = 0.02), 90% of them with a high psychological strain because of the cancer diagnosis (p = 0.04).

DISCUSSION

To date, tac is a rare topic in literature. Moreover, only a few trials have focused on hrql in OSCC. A main result of the current study is that during tac, OSCC patients should be regularly questioned about their symptoms and mental state. Further, the need of the majority of OSCC patients for coping therapies can concomitantly be evaluated.

CONCLUSION

The evaluation of tac is of high relevance. The results of the current study have encouraged us to establish this questionnaire as a routine tool in our tac.

What is the mechanism effect that links social support to coping and psychological outcome within individuals affected by prostate cancer? Real time data collection using mobile technology

PURPOSE

Unmet support needs are prevalent in men affected by prostate cancer. Moreover, little is known about the optimal type of social support, or its mechanism effect between coping and emotional outcome in men affected by this disease to identify areas for clinical intervention. This study aimed to empirically test the propositions of social support theory in "real time" within individual men living with and beyond prostate cancer.

METHODS

Purposeful sub-sample from a larger prospective longitudinal study of prostate cancer survivors, took part in real time data collection using mobile technology. Self-reports were collected for 31 days prompted by an audio alarm 3 times per day (a total of 93 data entries) for each of the 12 case studies. Electronic data were analysed using time series analysis.

RESULTS

Majority of response rates were >90%. Men reported a lack of satisfaction with their support over time. Testing the propositions of social support theory "within individuals" over time demonstrated different results for main effect, moderation and mediation pathways that linked coping and social support to emotional outcome. For two men, negative effects of social support were identified. For six men the propositions of social support theory did not hold considering their within-person data.

CONCLUSION

This innovative study is one of the first, to demonstrate the acceptability of e-health technology in an ageing population of men affected by prostate cancer. Collectively, the case series provided mixed support for the propositions of social support theory, and demonstrates that "one size does not fit all".