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- Title
Fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors in Singapore.
- Authors
Mahendran, Rathi; Jianlin Liu; Kuparasundram, Sangita; Simard, Sebastian; Yiong Huak Chan; Ee Heok Kua; Griva, Konstadina; Liu, Jianlin; Chan, Yiong Huak; Kua, Ee Heok
- Abstract
<bold>Introduction: </bold>Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among cancer survivors is a persistent and distressing psychosocial concern that affects recovery and quality of life. The prevalence of FCR in Singapore is unknown. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine FCR and identify factors associated with FCR in mixed-cancer survivors locally.<bold>Methods: </bold>Cancer survivors in remission (n = 404) were assessed for: FCR using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI); emotional distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and quality of life using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Clinical and severe/pathological FCR was determined based on the severity scale of FCRI, known as FCRI-Short Form. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with FCR.<bold>Results: </bold>The mean score on the FCRI was 59.5 ± 30.4. 43.6% of cancer survivors had clinical FCR and 32.1% had severe/pathological FCR. Younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.952, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.911-0.995, p < 0.05), higher educational status (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.15-5.65, p < 0.05) and higher levels of emotional distress (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.24, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with severe/pathological levels of FCR.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The present study is the first to determine levels of FCR among cancer survivors in Singapore. While the total FCR scores were similar to those of international studies, severe/pathological levels of FCR were found to be four times higher. These findings highlight a problem that is not widely recognised or acknowledged, but which deserves greater attention.
- Subjects
SINGAPORE; CANCER relapse; CANCER survivors; PSYCHOLOGICAL distress; QUALITY of life; CANCER remission; CROSS-sectional method; FEAR
- Publication
Singapore Medical Journal, 2021, Vol 62, Issue 6, p305
- ISSN
0037-5675
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.11622/smedj.2020007