Factors affecting the quality of life of gastric cancer survivors

Background

The number of gastric cancer survivors has been increasing, and such survivors experience various changes in their lives post-recovery. Adapting to these changes requires appropriate interventions that can improve their quality of life (QoL). This study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting the QoL of gastric cancer survivors and provide basic data for effective intervention.

Methods

Data were collected between September 8 and September 29, 2017, from the Gastric Cancer Center at a tertiary hospital. Questionnaire surveys were conducted using the EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22, Self-Efficacy-Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Quality of Life-Cancer Survivors Questionnaire on gastric cancer survivors who were followed up for 3 years after gastrectomy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis.

Results

A total of 136 gastric cancer survivors completed the questionnaire survey. There were significant positive correlations of QoL with self-efficacy, functional status, and social support (r = .35, p < .001; r = .53, p < .001; r = .26, p < .001, respectively). There were significant negative correlations of QoL with general symptoms (r =  − .39, p < .001) and gastric cancer-specific symptoms (r =  − .51, p < .001). The regression model explained 48.3% of the QoL, and the affecting factors were gastric cancer-specific symptoms (β =  − .397, p < .001), religious belief (β = .299, p < .001), functional status (β = .251, p = .003), and self-efficacy (β = .191, p = .004).

Conclusion

This study confirmed that gastric cancer-specific symptoms, spiritual well-being, self-efficacy, and functional status affect the QoL of gastric cancer survivors. Hence, these factors should be considered in the interventions to improve the QoL of gastric cancer survivors.

Self-efficacy for Coping with cancer: Psychometric properties of the Cancer Behavior Inventory version 3.0 - Korean

PURPOSE

To validate the Cancer Behavior Inventory version 3.0 - Korean (CBI 3.0 - K), a holistic measure of self-efficacy for coping with cancer by including spiritual coping subscale.

METHOD

Psychometric properties of the CBI 3.0 - K were evaluated among 453 cancer patients. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine structural validity. Internal consistency was measured with Cronbach's alpha. For convergent validity, correlations with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Gastric Gastric Cancer Subscale (GaCS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (FACT-Sp) subscale and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) Global Health Status/QoL subscale were analyzed.

RESULTS

The CBI 3.0 - K supported the original 7 factor structure of the CBI Version 3.0 with relocation of one item which reflected self-efficacy for coping utilizing personal resources. High levels of internal consistencies were demonstrated. Convergent validity was established with moderate to strong correlations with the GaCS, the HADS, the FACIT-Sp, and the EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales, and moderate correlation with the MSPSS. Known group validity with the Using Spiritual Coping subscale was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

The CBI 3.0 - K will facilitate comprehensive assessment of patients' self-efficacy for coping by including spiritual coping subscale. Assessment on responsiveness of the CBI 3.0 - K to interventions designed to enhance coping is strongly recommended.

Global and regional geographical prevalence of depression in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Substantial uncertainty exists about the prevalence of depression in patients with gastric cancer. We aimed to summarise the global and regional pooled prevalence of depression among patients with gastric cancer.

METHOD

Up to February 2020, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of science (ISI) and PsychINFO to identify published studies on the prevalence of depression among patients with gastric cancer. The study selection procedure was in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We estimated the prevalence of depression in gastric cancer patients using a random-effect pooled estimate analysis approach with subgroup analysis based on WHO regions, and methods of depression measurement.

RESULTS

Totally, we retrieved 3781 studies from the previously mentioned databases, of which 18 (12 cross-sectional and 6 cohort studies in design) met the eligibility criteria, which were published from 2001 to 2017 in different regions. The total sample size of the included studied contained 4709 patients with gastric cancer, of which 1885 cases were diagnosed with depression. The pooled prevalence of depression among gastric cancer patients was 37%(95% CI: 26% to 48%). Subgroup analysis showed that the highest prevalence of depression was in Eastern Mediterranean (pooled prevalence=42%; 95% CI: 18% to 65%) followed by the Western Pacific region (pooled prevalence=40%;95% CI: 26% to 54%). The results indicated a significant heterogeneity (I ²=98.8%,P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that depression is high among gastric cancer patients. The findings suggest health authorities to provide specially designed social and psychological supportive care services, including screening for depression, among such patients.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020139836.