scholarly journals LIVING WELL AFTER CANCER: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PRODUCTIVE LEISURE

Author(s):  
Cecile J. Proctor ◽  
◽  
Danie A. Beaulieu ◽  
Anthony J. Reiman ◽  
Lisa A. Best ◽  
...  

"It is now recognized that the ""cancer experience"" extends beyond diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life care. Relative to individuals who have not faced a cancer diagnosis, cancer survivors report increased mental health concerns and lowered physical and psychological well-being (Langeveld et al., 2004). Health-related quality of life encompasses overall physical (e.g., energy, fatigue, pain, etc.) and psychological functioning (e.g., emotional well-being, etc.), as well as general health perceptions (Hays & Morales, 2001). Nayak and colleagues (2017) reported that 82.3% of cancer patients had below-average quality of life scores, with the lowest scores found in the general, physical, and psychological well-being domains. Research suggests that various positive lifestyle variables, including social connectedness, leisure activity, and mindfulness practices are associated with increased quality of life in cancer patients (Courtens et al., 1996; Fangel et al., 2013; Garland et al., 2017). In this study, 350 cancer survivors completed an online questionnaire package that included a detailed demographic questionnaire with medical and online support and leisure activity questions. Additional measures were included to assess quality of life (QLQ-C30; Aaronson et al., 1993), social connectedness (Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults, SELSA-S; DiTommaso et al., 2004), and mindfulness (Adolescent and Adult Mindfulness Scale, AAMS; Droutman et al., 2018). Results show that increased QOL is predicted by increased medical support, lower family loneliness, self-acceptance, and engaging in a variety of leisure activities. Encouraging family support, including the patient in the decision-making process, encouraging a variety of physically possible leisure activities, and normalizing negative emotions surrounding diagnosis and disease symptoms are all ways that overall QoL can be improved."

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-213
Author(s):  
Thalia Bellali ◽  
Georgios Manomenidis ◽  
Eirini Meramveliotaki ◽  
Evgenia Minasidou ◽  
Petros Galanis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (07) ◽  
pp. 682-700
Author(s):  
Sarroukh a ◽  
◽  
Benbouchaib b ◽  
Benhessou c ◽  
Ennachit d ◽  
...  

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer amongst women. It is a serious disease that impacts all aspects of the patients life and goes beyond that to touch the lives of all their loved ones. This work aims to evaluate the impact cancer has on the lives of our patients and their loves ones, namely: their social, economic and psychological well-being. Methodology: We have conducted a cross-functional study at the Mohamed VI Center of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, between May and July of 2017, leveraging 2 sets of questions, including the Arabic Dialect version of the quality of life questionnaire, in its 2 versions: Family and Patient. Results: The average age of the patients sample was 26-43. Amongst the studied aspects, fear was the most negatively impacted spiritual, physical, and social well- being were the least impacted. 50, 9 % of patients were accompanied, 69, 6 % of companions were females. Amongst the companions, psychological well-being was most negatively impacted. Conclusion: The patients and their companions had their quality of life severely negatively impacted, in all aspects. As such, caring for cancer patients must be done in all-inclusive manner, taking into account their life quality and their lives loves ones, who are their main source of support during their ordeal.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (14) ◽  
pp. 5927-5936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munir Abu-Helalah ◽  
Motasem Al-Hanaqta ◽  
Hussam Alshraideh ◽  
Nada Abdulbaqi ◽  
Jameel Hijazeen

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.


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Understanding and optimizing quality of life and psychological well-being presents a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the enhancement of the lives of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers. ALS is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder. No current medical therapy can reverse or stop its progression, and the promotion of quality of life and psychological well-being is a central component of ALS care. Health care professionals who work in this field should incorporate attention to psychological, emotional, and relational aspects of the disease into their approach to care. This book provides some of the knowledge and direction necessary for optimizing the quality of care for individuals with ALS and their caregivers. Topics discussed include an ALS-centred view of quality of life, depressive features, anxiety, resilience, cognitive impairment, complementary and alternative medicines, and psychological research. Specific elements of ALS, such as end-of-life concerns and bulbar dysfunction, are described through the lens of their psychological impact. There is extensive discussion of the development of new psychological treatments, as well as the impact and incorporation of new technologies, with the goal of fostering optimal quality of life and psychological well-being as key parts of a holistic approach to care for the patients and for those who are close to such individuals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 463-463
Author(s):  
Pauline Filippou ◽  
Sean McCabe ◽  
Hannah McCloskey ◽  
Kathryn Gessner ◽  
Judy Hamad ◽  
...  

463 Background: Quality of life among cancer survivors has been shown to vary by age. Our objective was to evaluate differences in general and bladder cancer-specific quality of life based on age among a large cross-sectional bladder cancer cohort. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey of bladder cancer patients using the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Patient Survey Network and Inspire platforms to determine general and bladder cancer-specific quality of life (QOL) using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and Bladder Cancer Index. Patients were also queried regarding demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. We present descriptive statistics and a multiple linear regression model to identify factors independently associated with QOL domain score. Results: 972 respondents self-identified as patients with bladder cancer, of whom 41% were female and 97 % were white. The mean age was 67.6 years (range 29 to 93 years). Respondents were highly educated (67% completed college). 63% of patients identified as having non-invasive (NMIBC) cancer (n=578), 30% had MIBC (n=270), and 7% had metastatic bladder cancer (n=63). On multivariable analysis, older age was significantly associated with better generic QOL and urinary function ( Table), but not sexual function (p=0.19) or bowel function (p=0.73), controlling for sex, race, stage, comorbidity and years since diagnosis. Conclusions: Higher general and domain-specific QOL scores are more common among older bladder cancer patients. Differential impact by age may be important for the development of tailored interventions to improve QOL for bladder cancer patients. [Table: see text]


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1990-2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. van der Spek ◽  
J. Vos ◽  
C. F. van Uden-Kraan ◽  
W. Breitbart ◽  
P. Cuijpers ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors (MCGP-CS) to improve personal meaning, compared with supportive group psychotherapy (SGP) and care as usual (CAU).MethodA total of 170 cancer survivors were randomly assigned to one of the three study arms: MCGP-CS (n = 57); SGP (n = 56); CAU (n = 57). The primary outcome measure was the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP; total score). Secondary outcome measures were subscales of the PMP, psychological well-being (Scales of Psychological Well-being; SPWB), post-traumatic growth (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory), Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC), optimism (Life Orientation Test-Revised), hopelessness (Beck's Hopelessness Scale), psychological distress (anxiety and depression, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire; EORTC QLQ-C30). Outcome measures were assessed before randomization, post-intervention, and after 3 and 6 months of follow-up (FU).ResultsLinear mixed model analyses (intention-to-treat) showed significant differences between MCGP-CS, SGP and CAU on the total PMP score, and on (sub)scales of the PMP, SPWB, MAC and HADS. Post-hoc analyses showed significantly stronger treatment effects of MCGP-CS compared with CAU on personal meaning (d = 0.81), goal-orientedness (d = 1.07), positive relations (d = 0.59), purpose in life (d = 0.69); fighting spirit (d = 0.61) (post-intervention) and helpless/hopeless (d = −0.87) (3 months FU); and distress (d = −0.6) and depression (d = −0.38) (6 months FU). Significantly stronger effects of MCGP-CS compared with SGP were found on personal growth (d = 0.57) (3 months FU) and environmental mastery (d = 0.66) (6 months FU).ConclusionsMCGP-CS is an effective intervention for cancer survivors to improve personal meaning, psychological well-being and mental adjustment to cancer in the short term, and to reduce psychological distress in the long run.


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