Enhancing Research on Cancer Survivors

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (32) ◽  
pp. 5149-5153 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Z. Ayanian ◽  
Paul B. Jacobsen

The United States devotes substantial resources to understanding the etiologies of cancer and improving treatments, but much less research has focused on the needs of cancer survivors after they have completed active treatment. This article augments findings from the Institute of Medicine about cancer survivorship research and ways to enhance quality of life and quality of care. Studies of cancer survivors should focus on mechanisms and risk factors for impaired quality of life and evaluate interventions to improve this domain. Research to improve quality of care should concentrate on survivorship care plans, surveillance tests, respective roles of primary and specialty care, and performance measures related to survivorship care. Opportunities to expand research on cancer survivors include clinical trials, large cohort studies, cancer registries, and national surveys. Research to understand the needs of cancer survivors will provide a foundation for effective programs to meet these needs.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10007-10007
Author(s):  
Cary Philip Gross ◽  
Wilhelmenia Lee Ross ◽  
Jaime L. Rotatori ◽  
Hannah-Rose Mitchell ◽  
Xiaomei Ma ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 153-154
Author(s):  
Afeez Hazzan

Abstract Dementia is one of the most rapidly growing diseases in the United States. In 2018, the direct costs to American society of caring for older people with dementia was approximately $277 billion. Primary informal caregivers are mainly responsible for the care of older people with dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers perform a myriad of duties ranging from shopping for their loved ones’ groceries, helping with medications, and managing finances. The caregiving role becomes more demanding as the disease progresses over time, and studies have shown that the quality-of-life (QoL) experienced by caregivers of older adults who have dementia is lower than the QoL of caregivers for older people who do not have dementia. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no research conducted to investigate whether lower caregiver QoL affects the level or quality of care that caregivers provide to persons with dementia. In the current study, we interviewed family caregivers living in Rochester, New York to inquire about their quality of life and the care provided to older people living with dementia. Further, caregivers completed the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) as well as a draft questionnaire for measuring the quality of care provided to older people living with dementia. Both quantitative and qualitative findings from this study reveals important relationships between family caregiver QoL and the care provided, including the impact of social support and financial well-being. The study findings could have significant impact, particularly for the provision of much needed support for family caregivers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-105
Author(s):  
Amandeep R. Mahal ◽  
Laura D. Cramer ◽  
Elyn H. Wang ◽  
Shiyi Wang ◽  
Amy J. Davidoff ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1648-1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina L. Dickey ◽  
Motolani E. Ogunsanya

The purpose of this integrative review was to explore the impact of prostate cancer (PCa) on the quality of life (QoL) and factors that contribute to the QoL for Black men with PCa. Prostate is recognized as the prevalent cancer among men in the United States. Compared to other men, Black men are diagnosed more frequently and with more advanced stages of PCa. Black men also experience disproportionately higher morbidity and mortality rates of PCa, among all racial and ethnic groups. The initial diagnosis of PCa is often associated with a barrage of concerns for one’s well-being including one’s QoL. As a result, men must contend with various psychosocial and physiological symptoms of PCa survivorship. Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review method was utilized to examine empirical articles from the electronic databases of the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, PubMed, Project Muse, and Google Scholar. The time frame for the literature was January 2005 to December 2016. A synthesis of the literature yielded 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the integrative review. A conceptual framework that examined QoL among cancer survivors identified four domains that measured the QoL among Black PCa survivors: (a) physical; (b) psychological; (c) social; and (d) spiritual well-being. Social well-being was the dominant factor among the studies in the review, followed by physical, psychological, and spiritual. Results indicate the need for additional studies that examine the factors impacting the QoL among Black PCa survivors, using a theoretical framework so as to develop culturally appropriate interventions for Black PCa survivors.


1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2614-2614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne S. Mandelblatt ◽  
Patricia A. Ganz ◽  
Katherine L. Kahn

ABSTRACT: Cancer is an important disease, and health care services have the potential to improve the quality and quantity of life for cancer patients. The delivery of these services also has recently been well codified. Given this framework, cancer care presents a unique opportunity for clinicians to develop and test outcome measures across diverse practice settings. Recently, the Institute of Medicine released a report reviewing the quality of cancer care in the United States and called for further development and monitoring of quality indicators. Thus, as we move into the 21st century, professional and regulatory agencies will be seeking to expand process measures and develop and validate outcomes-oriented measures for cancer and other diseases. For such measures to be clinically relevant and feasible, it is key that the oncology community take an active leadership role in this process. To set the stage for such activities, this article first reviews broad methodologic concerns involved in selecting measures of the quality of care, using breast cancer to exemplify key issues. We then use the case of breast cancer to review the different phases of cancer care and provide examples of phase-specific measures that, after careful operationalization, testing, and validation, could be used as the basis of an agenda for measuring the quality of breast cancer care in oncology practice. The diffusion of process and outcome measures into practice; the practicality, reliability, and validity of these measures; and the impact that these indicators have on practice patterns and the health of populations will be key to evaluating the success of such quality-of-care paradigms. Ultimately, improved quality of care should translate into morbidity and mortality reductions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 170-170
Author(s):  
Elena Lorenzi ◽  
Lucia Morello ◽  
Laura Giordano ◽  
Elisa Agostinetto ◽  
Camille Grosso ◽  
...  

170 Background: While there are different studies investigating the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients (pts) during active treatment, few studies report QoL of cancer survivors (CS) after at least 5 years (yrs) from achieving complete remission. We have investigated QoL and concerns about physical\psychological symptom of CS enrolled in our survivorship program from April 2015 to December 2016. Methods: We included pts > 18 yrs affected by hematologic or solid tumors after at least 5 yrs from achieving complete remission. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using validated scales: Cancer Survivors Survey of Needs subscale and a single-item measure of global QoL perception. Results: We analyzed data from 178 CS. The median age was 62 yrs (52 yrs at diagnosis), 70% were females. The most frequent histological types were breast (50%), colorectal (11%) and hematologic tumors (16%). Most pts received both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With a median observation time of 139 months, the 10-yrs cumulative incidence of second neoplasm and cardiac adverse event was 8% and 7% respectively. 133 pts (65%) reported a good QoL (score > 3). The most frequent symptoms reported were weight changes (77%), memory\concentration deficit (65%), dental\mouth problems (61%). The most common physical\psychological symptoms were fear of relapse (83%), genetic counseling (68%), living with uncertainty (66%). A positive statistically significant association (p < 0.05) was observed between previous hormonal therapy and the following concerns (score ≥2): sleep disturbance (42% vs 35%); weight gain (31% vs 24%), osteoporosis (35% vs 18%), living with uncertainty (44% vs 38%). Female reported more fear of relapse (p 0.023) and sense of uncertainty (p 0.006) than males. 92% of pts have fully or partially adhered to the survivorship care plan. Conclusions: Most CS have a good QoL perception but we observed a high percentage of pts with a low score indicating different needs to be addressed. Pts treated with hormonal therapy are at higher risk of having both physical and psychological concerns. So far, the compliance of pts with the program was high.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 70-70
Author(s):  
Patricia Deslauriers ◽  
Shanmuga Subbiah ◽  
Jane M. Fall-Dickson

70 Background: American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer accredited programs are required to provide Survivorship Care Plans (SCPs) to cancer survivors after initial cancer treatment. A critical need exists to evaluate SCP patient outcomes. The primary purpose of this quality improvement project was to integrate SCP into standard care for adult stage I, II, and III breast and colon cancer patients. Secondary aims were to examine the hypothesis that the SCP will improve participants’ knowledge base regarding their cancer, health promotion and disease prevention, satisfaction with delivery of health care, quality of life, and adherence to follow-up and surveillance testing. Methods: The IRB approved study was conducted at a hospital-based Medical Oncology Clinic (MOC) in the Western US. A pre/post design was used. Sociodemographic, Medical Outcomes Study Form-36 (MOS-SF-36), Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form-PSQ-18 (PSQ-SF-18), and Patient Knowledge of Disease Questionnaire (PKDQ) data were collected pre/post SCP. At the follow-up visit, MOS-SF-36, PSQ-SF-18, PKDQ, and open-ended evaluative questionnaire (OEEQ) data were collected. Results: Forty-two subjects were enrolled. The sample is primarily female (n = 36; 86%), Caucasian (n = 41; 97.6%), Hispanic (n = 36; 85.7%), non-high school graduates (n = 26; 61%), and unemployed/retired (n = 32; 78%). Annual incomes were primarily less than $20K (n = 32; 78%). Paticipants were post-treatment for breast cancer (n = 36) or colon cancer (n = 6). 100% of the participants returned for follow-up visits with only 2 (4.8%) delayed. There were significant increases in knowledge (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in the MOS-SF-36 ant the PSQ-SF-18. Themes in the OEEQ captured satisfaction with the provision of the SCP, changes in health promotion and disease prevention habits. Conclusions: This pilot study supports the hypothesis that SCPs improve adherence to follow-up and patient knowledge, especially in a unique setting of a low socio-economic, ethnically diverse population. A larger study is needed to show statistically significant improvements in health-related quality of life and satisfaction with delivery of health care.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teri A. Martin ◽  
Rose M. Moran-Kelly ◽  
Joanna G. Powe ◽  
Lucy M. Roberts ◽  
Sandra N. Farrell ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6111-6111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phyllis Noemi Butow ◽  
Lynley Aldridge ◽  
Melanie Bell ◽  
Ming Sze ◽  
Maurice Eisenbruch ◽  
...  

6111 Background: Immigration is increasing world-wide. Cancer survivorship is now recognised as a period of difficult adjustment for all patients, and possibly more so for immigrants. We explored disparities in quality of life outcomes for immigrant (IM) versus Anglo-Australian (AA) cancer survivors. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, cancer survivors were recruited through the New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian Cancer Registries in Australia. IM participants, their parents and grandparents were born in a country where Chinese, Greek, or Arabic is spoken and spoke one of those languages. AAs were born in Australia and spoke English. All were diagnosed with cancer 1-3 years previously. Questionnaires (completed in preferred language) included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety/ depression), FACT-G (quality of life) and Supportive Care Needs Survey (unmet needs). Outcomes were compared between AA and IM groups in adjusted regression models that included age, gender, socio-economic status, education, marital status, religion, time since diagnosis and cancer type (prostate, colorectal, breast and other). Results: There were 599 participants (response rate 41%). Consent was unrelated to demographic and disease variables. AA and IM groups were similar except that immigrants had higher proportions in the low and highly educated groups (p < 0.0001), and higher socioeconomic status (p = 0.0003). In adjusted analyses (see table), IMs had clinically significant higher depression (possible range 0-21), greater unmet information and physical needs, and lower quality of life than AAs. The possible range for the latter three is 0-100. Conclusions: Immigrants experience poorer outcomes in cancer survivorship, even after adjusting for socio-economic, demographic and disease differences. Interventions are required to improve their adjustment after cancer. Results highlight areas of unmet need that might be better addressed by the health system (particularly with regard to provision of information and support. [Table: see text]


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