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Yang H, Fong S, Chan P, Cheung A, Peng L, Yan J, Cheung YT, Li CK. Life Functioning in Chinese Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Hong Kong. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2020; 10:326-335. [PMID: 32721257 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2020.0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Evidence on self-care ability and occupational outcomes in Chinese survivors of childhood cancer is clearly lacking. This study aims to identify clinical and behavioral factors associated with poor life functioning in this population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at an ambulatory clinic of a public hospital in Hong Kong. Licensed occupational therapists administered the Life Functioning Assessment Inventory on survivors diagnosed with cancer <19 years old and ≥5 years post-diagnosis. Survivors' career development self-efficacy, subjective happiness, and motivation were evaluated using structured questionnaires. Clinical information was obtained from medical records. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate factors associated with life functioning outcomes, adjusting for clinically relevant variables. Results: Eighty survivors were recruited (58.7% male; age at diagnosis: 6.7 [standard deviation (SD) = 4.8] years; age at evaluation: 24.4 [SD = 6.5] years). Compared to survivors of leukemia, survivors of brain tumor performed worse in social functioning (β = -0.79, standard error [SE] = 0.36; p = 0.034). Survivors who had been treated with cranial radiation also had lower worker life functioning than those who had not (β = -0.91, SE = 0.031; p = 0.021). Higher activity motivation was significantly associated with better leisure functioning (β = 0.086, SE = 0.03; p = 0.008), social functioning (β = 0.036, SE = 0.02; p = 0.036), and career development self-efficacy (β = 1.04, SE = 0.26; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Survivors of brain tumors and survivors who were treated with radiation have poorer life functioning, particularly in social and work domains. Future work includes validating the study findings in a larger cohort of survivors in Hong Kong. Addressing modifiable behavioral factors include motivating survivors to engage in meaningful activities that contribute to self-care and participation in society, as well as providing at-risk survivors with ongoing support from community vocational services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hellen Yang
- Occupation Therapy Department, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sanne Fong
- Occupation Therapy Department, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Phoebe Chan
- Occupation Therapy Department, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alice Cheung
- Occupational Therapy Department, Princess of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liwen Peng
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiaqi Yan
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yin Ting Cheung
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chi-Kong Li
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
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