Social support can alleviate the fear of cancer recurrence in postoperative patients with lung carcinoma

Wei Zheng; Mengdie Hu; Yan Liu

Social support can alleviate the fear of cancer recurrence in postoperative patients with lung carcinoma

Am J Transl Res. 2022 Jul 15;14(7):4804-4811. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Wei Zheng¹, Mengdie Hu², Yan Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100021, China.
² Department of VIP Medical Services, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100021, China.

PMID: 35958474
PMCID: PMC9360850

Abstract

Objective: To explore the status and influencing factors of the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in postoperative patients with lung carcinoma (LC).

Methods: The survey results of 219 LC patients who underwent surgical treatment in a tertiary grade A cancer hospital in Beijing from January 2020 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed by using the general information questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF).

Results: The score of the FoP-Q-SF was (25.68±3.15 points) in postoperative LC patients, and education level and per capita monthly household income were identified as the independent risk factors affecting FCR. There was an inverse correlation between FCR and social support in postoperative LC patients (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Postoperative LC patients experience a moderate-level of FCR, especially females and those with a low family income. Social support plays an essential role in alleviating FCR. Nursing suggestions should be given according to individual differences of patients, and social health service resources should be effectively utilized to reduce FCR.

Keywords: Lung carcinoma; fear of cancer recurrence; influencing factor; social support.