Social participation and acceptance of disability in young and middle-aged breast cancer patients after surgery: A 6-month follow-up study

Objective

To describe the social participation and acceptance of disability (AOD) in young and middle-aged patients with breast cancer after surgery and their dynamic trajectories and to explore the critical factors associated with social participation.

Methods

212 young and middle-aged patients with breast cancer after surgery were recruited for a 6-month follow-up study, and 158 of whom completed four surveys. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires including a general information questionnaire, Social Dysfunction Screening Scale, and Adaptation of Disability Scale Revised at baseline, and at 1, 3, and 6 months. T-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the difference in baseline data. Linear generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the dynamic trend and influencing factors. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the trend of the incidence of social function defects.

Results

The status of social participation in patients after breast cancer surgery was poor, and 77.9%, 59.3%, 45.9%, and 29.1% had social function defects, respectively. The AOD was at a moderate level. Both social participation and AOD showed a trend of dynamic improvement. Age (P ​= ​0.044), residence (P ​= ​0.007), surgery type (P ​= ​0.043), postoperative chemotherapy (P ​= ​0.003), and AOD (P < 0.001) were the key factors associated with social participation.

Conclusions

Medical staff should focus on elderly patients, who lived outside the provincial capital city, received total mastectomy, or modified radical mastectomy and postoperative chemotherapy. AOD might be an important potential avenue for improving the social participation level of young and middle-aged patients with breast cancer after surgery.

A Psychometric Validation of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire in a Sample of Turkish Cancer Survivors

Community participation and autonomy are two of the vital treatments and rehabilitation outcomes for people with chronic health conditions and disabilities, including people with cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate psychometric properties of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Scale (IPA) in a sample of Turkish cancer survivors. An exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze data collected from 186 cancer survivors who completed the IPA, Health Care Climate Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Role Functioning subscale of the EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire. In contrast to the original five-factor solution, the results provided a better fit for a three-factor correlated model ( Activities of Daily Living [ADL]/ Instrumental ADL, social relations, and employment and education). The IPA factors were significantly associated with supportive healthcare climate, role functioning, and life satisfaction in the theoretically expected directions, providing support for the nomological construct validity of the Turkish version of the IPA. Overall, the Turkish version of the IPA is a psychometrically sound measure of participation and autonomy that can be used to assess cancer survivors’ levels of community participation for treatment planning and selection of evidence-based healthcare and psychosocial interventions for cancer survivors.

The effects of administered interventions on quality of life of children with cancer in Turkey: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyse the effects of administered interventions on the quality of life of children with cancer in Turkey.

METHODS

The quantitative studies conducted with paediatric oncology patients, analysing the quality of life of Turkish children, and published papers from 2009 to 2019 were searched. Joanna Briggs Institution MAStARI Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research Control List and Quality Index were used for methodological assessment. Five studies comprising a total of 264 samples were included. Four studies were nonrandomised controlled trials, and one was a quasi-experimental study.

RESULTS

Tests for heterogeneity showed that the studies, which included interventions increasing the quality of life of children with cancer, were heterogeneous. The common effect size of all studies on quality of life was determined as having a strong positive effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis and systematic review contribute to the knowledge of Turkish health care professionals regarding these interventions by producing results with high levels of evidence on the improvement of the quality of life among children with cancer. The present study also significantly raises awareness and encourages health care professionals to implement interventions for the improvement of quality of life among children with cancer.

Autonomy Support, Life Satisfaction, and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

Abstract. Previous research shows that perceived autonomy support is significantly associated with positive health outcomes for different clinical populations. However, there is not a standardized measurement tool that assesses perceived autonomy support for the Turkish population. This study translated the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ), a perceived autonomy support measurement tool, into Turkish and investigated the factorial structure of the questionnaire with a group of patients with cancer. This study used a convenience-sampling method with 192 people with cancer. The participants were recruited from a major cancer institute and a non-profit organization in Turkey by research partners. Volunteer participants either filled out a hard copy of a survey packet or completed the survey packet through a secured online survey tool website (i.e., https://www.surveymonkey.com ). In addition, a closed Facebook group for cancer survivors in Turkey was used to advertise the study’s link. The results indicated the participants perceived a moderate level of autonomy support. In comparison to German and US populations, perceived autonomy support was low among Turkish cancer patients. The results also indicated that the HCCQ has a two-factor measurement structure. Correlations with external variables indicated that the scores of HCCQ were significantly positively associated with life satisfaction and quality of life of cancer patients and negatively associated with cancer related symptoms (e.g., fatigue).

Assessments used to measure participation in life activities in individuals with cancer: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Individuals with cancer are at high risk for restricted participation in meaningful life activities such as work, school, and social activities. Evaluating participation in life activities is identified as a critical component of rehabilitation referral and triage systems. This scoping review investigates what assessments are used to measure participation in life activities in individuals with cancer.

METHODS

Six databases were systematically searched using keywords and controlled vocabulary through February 2020. Eligible studies used the term participation in the context of life situations and had an assessment with at least 5 participation-specific questions.

RESULTS

A total of 4604 unique articles were identified and screened for eligibility. Thirty-two studies were included; 20 unique assessments of participation were identified. Assessments were developed with the primary purpose of measuring participation (n = 8); global or physical function (n = 9); community integration (n = 1); social activity (n = 1); or occupational gaps (n = 1). Most assessments (12/20) were not developed with the purpose of measuring participation and only 4 assessments measured key components of participation other than frequency.

CONCLUSION

Measuring participation in life activities is a developing area in oncology research. Most studies do not accurately or comprehensively measure this construct. The heterogeneity in assessments used indicates no clear consensus on a gold-standard participation measure for use among cancer survivors. Comprehensively measuring participation will help identify individuals in need of rehabilitation services and is an essential first step to inform the development of targeted interventions to enhance participation.