scholarly journals Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Model Examination of Physical Symptoms, Emotional Distress, and Health Behavior Change

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. e787-e797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel L. Hall ◽  
Rachel B. Jimenez ◽  
Giselle K. Perez ◽  
Julia Rabin ◽  
Katharine Quain ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: Fear of cancer recurrence is highly prevalent among adult survivors of cancer. The role of fear of recurrence in the emotional distress of survivors of cancer, as well as health behaviors that may directly affect their health, remains unclear. To advance oncology practice, this study sought to examine the extent to which fear of recurrence stemming from physical symptoms accounts for emotional distress in a large sample of adult survivors of cancer and to extend the model to explain postdiagnosis self-reported health behavior change. METHODS: In 2016, 258 survivors of cancer at an academic hospital completed a survey of psychosocial needs. Items assessed physical symptoms (checklist), fear of cancer recurrence (Assessment of Survivor Concerns), emotional distress (anxiety and depressed mood), and health behaviors (current alcohol use, physical activity, diet, and sunscreen use, as well as changes after cancer diagnosis) informed by National Comprehensive Cancer Network survivorship guidelines. Indirect effects regression models accounting for relevant covariates (age and treatment history) used 5,000-iteration bootstrapping. RESULTS: Higher fear of cancer recurrence was associated with greater number of physical symptoms ( P < .001), greater emotional distress ( P < .05), lower moderate or vigorous physical activity ( P < .05), higher sunscreen use ( P < .05), and postdiagnosis increases in alcohol use ( P < .01) and reductions in physical activity ( P < .01). Fear of cancer recurrence models accounted for almost half of the variance in distress of survivors of cancer ( R2 = 0.44, P < .001) and, to a lesser yet significant extent, changes in alcohol consumption ( R2 = 0.09, P < .001) and physical activity ( R2 = 0.06, P = .003). CONCLUSION: Fear of cancer recurrence plays a central role in the emotional distress and key health behaviors of survivors of cancer. These findings support fear of cancer recurrence as a potential target for emotional health and health behavior change interventions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (8) ◽  
pp. 1443-1447
Author(s):  
Suwei Wang ◽  
Ethel Johnson ◽  
Sheila Tyson ◽  
Julia M. Gohlke

To investigate how heat-health behaviors changed in summer 2020 compared with previous summers, our community–academic partnership conducted telephone surveys to collect data on cooling behaviors, safety concerns, and preferences for cooling alternatives for 101 participants living in Alabama. Participants indicating they would visit cooling centers declined from 23% in previous summers to 10% in summer 2020. The use of cooling centers and other public spaces may be less effective in reducing heat-related illness because of safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic and police brutality.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine S. Gipson

This article provides a conceptual definition of the concept trigger within the context of health behaviors and applies it to the highly significant health issue of obesity. Healthy behaviors are essential to life and happiness, but they do not just happen. They are triggered, and an inner drive keeps them alive. To help patients gain and retain optimal health, nurses must understand the triggers of healthy behaviors. Walker and Avant’s (2011) method of concept analysis is used as the basis for defining the concept of trigger. The antecedents, defining attributes, and consequences of trigger are identified. Findings suggest that nurses can play a role in triggering health behavior change through simple motivational efforts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 817-817
Author(s):  
Jaime Hughes ◽  
Janet Bettger ◽  
Susan Hughes ◽  
Mina Raj

Abstract Modifying health behaviors can be difficult, especially for older adults who are challenged by multiple chronic conditions, reduced functional and/or cognitive capacity, and limited social support. Although much attention has been given to the theories, skills, and resources behind initiating and achieving behavior change, less work has focused on maintenance of health behaviors over time. This presentation will showcase pilot research inspired by RCCN’s first workshop, Achieving and Sustaining Behavior Change. Specifically, this pilot brings together an interdisciplinary team of behavioral scientists and health services researchers working at the intersection of intervention science and implementation science to better understand the construct of maintenance and discuss emerging methods for intervention development and evaluation. The presentation will utilize physical activity as an example behavior to demonstrate the value of interdisciplinary research, including recommendations on how some of the six NIA research centers can make unique contributions to understanding health behavior maintenance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Amireault ◽  
Angela J. Fong ◽  
Catherine M. Sabiston

Multiple health behavior change (MHBC) interventions have great potential for enhancing health and well-being following cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the characteristics and effects of MHBC interventions remain elusive for cancer survivors. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MHBC interventions on healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among cancer survivors. A secondary aim was to examine the effect of using a simultaneous and sequential design approach to MHBC (ie, changing both behaviors at the same time or one after the other). Randomized controlled trials reporting the impact of a MHBC intervention on both healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among cancer survivors were retrieved from MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO. A total of 27 MHBC interventions were identified; most (92.6%) were designed to promote simultaneous change in both behaviors and assessed end-of-treatment effect among breast cancer survivors. MHBC interventions led by nurses or multidisciplinary teams showed the most compelling evidence for small to moderate improvement in both behaviors, with interventions that lasted ≥17 weeks more likely to improve both behaviors. This study identifies research priorities and provides preliminary evidence for clinical decision making and advancements in MHBC intervention design and delivery for clinical oncology.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyoung Shin ◽  
Dong Wook Shin ◽  
Jungkwon Lee ◽  
JiHye Hwang ◽  
Ji Eun Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: This study aimed to evaluate factors related to the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in stomach cancer survivors.Methods: A total of 363 stomach cancer survivors were divided into three groups according to the Korean version of the FCR Index (FCRI). We compared the socio-demographic and cancer-related factors, communication within the medical team during treatment, care coordination, social support, physical symptoms, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and health promotion and disease prevention activity, which was defined as second primary cancer screening, osteoporosis evaluation, supplementary drug intake, dietary pattern, regular exercise, and smoking cessation, according to the levels of FCRI using the linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, sex, stage, time since diagnosis, family cancer diagnosis, and comorbidities.Results: An average of 7.3 years have passed since diagnosis. The highest FCRI group was younger or had a high percentage of family cancer diagnosis. Satisfaction for communication and care coordination, social support, HRQoL, and physical symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, and insomnia, were negatively associated with the FCR of stomach cancer survivors. Anxiety and depression were positively associated with the FCR. However, FCR was not associated with sex, time since diagnosis, cancer stage, treatment modality, socioeconomic status, or health promotion and disease prevention activity.Conclusions: FCR in stomach cancer survivors was associated with physical, psychological, and HRQoL factors rather than socio-demographic or cancer–related factors. Understanding the association between HRQoL, physical and psychosocial factors, and FCR may advance survivorship care for stomach cancer survivors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis D. Mitchell ◽  
Laura E. Martin ◽  
Austin S. Baldwin ◽  
Sara M. Levens

Physical activity offers substantial mind-body health benefits and reduced mortality, yet many individuals are chronically underactive. Physical activity interventions may benefit from integrative approaches that join components of mindfulness and neurobiological models of behavior. Mindfulness increases one’s awareness of cognitions and physical sensations to potentially facilitate self-regulation, while neurobiological models such as the dual system model of health behavior offer guidance on improving physical activity intervention targets. This 2-phase study includes an initial development process to create brief (∼4 min) mindfulness informed guided imagery audio files that target distinct cognitive and affective processes to promote physical activity. In the second phase, participants completed a 2-week pilot intervention study to gather qualitative and quantitative data on intervention feasibility and acceptability. Participants endorsed the mindfulness informed guided imagery as easy to use, enjoyable and helpful. Over a 2-week intervention period participants reported positive shifts in behavior change, physical activity enjoyment, increased mindfulness during physical activity, and increased physical exercise self-efficacy and satisfaction. Interview data revealed that participants increased their frequency of physical activity and tended to experience positive affect during physical activity, engaged in future oriented thinking and were able to view physical activity in a more positive light. Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of an integrative online mindfulness informed guided imagery intervention to promote physical activity enjoyment and engagement. This study extends health behavior change intervention research and provides supporting evidence for a flexible and tailorable online mindfulness-based intervention.


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