Non-cancer Survivors Research Articles

Preventive care in older cancer survivors.

To study factors that influence receipt of preventive care in older cancer survivors. We analyzed a nationally representative sample of 12,458 older adults from the 2003 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Factors associated with non-receipt of preventive care were explored among cancer and non-cancer survivors, using logistic regression. Among the cancer survivors, 1883 were diagnosed >1 year at survey completion. A cancer history was independently associated with receipt of mammogram (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.34-1.85), flu shot (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.16-1.53), measurement of total cholesterol in the previous six months (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.07-1.34), pneumonia vaccination (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.18-1.49), bone mineral density (BMD) testing (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.21-1.56), and lower endoscopy (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.29-1.65). However, receipt of preventive care was not optimal among older cancer survivors with only 51.2% of the female cancer survivors received a mammogram, 63.8% of all the cancer survivors received colonoscopy, and 42.5% had BMD testing. Among the cancer survivors, factors associated with non-receipt of mammogram included age ≥85 years (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.26-0.74), and scoring ≥three points on the Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (AOR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.80-1.00). Factors associated with non-receipt of colonoscopy included low education (AOR= 0.43, 95% CI = 0.27-0.68) and rural residence (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.34-0.77). Factors associated with non-receipt of BMD testing included age ≥70 (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.39-0.90), African American race (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI= 0.27-0.95), low education (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.14-0.38), and rural residence (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.27-0.70). Although older cancer survivors are more likely to receive preventive care services than other older adults, factors other than health status considerations (e.g., education, rural residence) are associated with non-receipt of preventive care services.

Influenza vaccination and associated factors among Korean cancer survivors : a cross-sectional analysis of the Fourth & Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

Influenza vaccination is important for cancer survivors, a population with impaired immunity. This study was designed to assess influenza vaccination patterns among Korean cancer survivors. In this cross-sectional analysis, data were obtained from standardized questionnaires from 943 cancer survivors and 41,233 non-cancer survivors who participated in the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2007-2011). We identified the adjusted influenza vaccination rates and assessed factors associated with influenza vaccination using multivariate logistic regression. Cancer survivors tended to have a higher adjusted influenza vaccination rate than the general population. The rates for influenza vaccination in specific cancer types such as stomach, hepatic, colon, and lung cancers were significantly higher than non-cancer survivors. Among all cancer survivors, those with chronic diseases, elderly subjects, and rural dwellers were more likely to receive influenza vaccination; those with cervical cancer were less likely to receive influenza vaccination. Cancer survivors were more likely to receive influenza vaccinations than non-cancer survivors, but this was not true for particular groups, especially younger cancer survivors. Cancer survivors represent a sharply growing population; therefore, immunization against influenza among cancer survivors should be concerned as their significant preventative healthcare services.Graphical

Prevalence, Awareness, Control, and Treatment of Hypertension and Diabetes in Korean Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Management of hypertension and diabetes in cancer survivors is an important issue; however, not much is known about the level of management of such chronic disease in Korea. This study therefore assessed the prevalence, awareness, control, and treatment of hypertension and diabetes in Korean cancer survivors compared to non-cancer survivors. A cross-sectional design was employed, wherein data were obtained from standardized questionnaires completed by 943 cancer survivors and 41,233 non-cancer survivors who participated in the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2007-2011). We calculated adjusted proportions for prevalence and management of hypertension and diabetes in non-cancer survivors and cancer survivors. We also assessed the associated factors with prevalence and management of cancer survivors. Cancer survivors are more likely than the general population to have higher prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. However, diabetic management was not significantly higher in cancer survivors than in non-cancer survivors, despite their having a higher prevalence. Several factors, such as, age, drinking, years since cancer diagnosis, self-perceived health status, and specific cancer types were found to affect to management of hypertension and diabetes. These data suggest that cancer survivors appear to be better than non-cancer survivors at management of hypertension, but not diabetes. There is a need for healthcare providers to recognize the importance of long-term chronic disease management for cancer survivors and for the care model to be shared between primary care physicians and oncologists.

Adherence to Health-Related Lifestyle Behavior Recommendations and Association with Quality of Life among Cancer Survivors and Age-Matched Controls in Koreaaa

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between lifestyle behavior and quality of life (QoL) among cancer survivors in Korea. Data for a total of 471 (173 men, 298 women) cancer survivors (CS) over 40 years old were obtained from the database of the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV). An identical number of subjects of the same age, sex, and education who had no restrictions in physical activity were randomly selected from the database and represented the control group (CG). Drinking, smoking, and exercise behavior were assessed. The number of heavy drinkers was lower in CS (9.4%) than in CG (15.8%) (p<0.01); similarly, there were fewer smokers in CS (9.1%) than in CG (14.0%) (p<0.05). The percentage of individuals engaging in vigorous, moderate, and low-intensity exercise did not differ between CS (13.6%, 14.7%, and 50.0%) and CG (14.3%, 13.4%, and 49.7%, respectively). No differences in Euro QoL Questionnaire 5-Dimensional Classification (EQ-5D) scores on both drinking and smoking behaviors were noted. Compared to the non-exercisers, the low-intensity exercisers in CG (0.91±0.10 vs. 0.94±0.09), vigorous-intensity exercisers in CS (0.84±0.62 vs. 0.91±0.11), and low-intensity exercisers in CS (0.82±0.22 vs. 0.88±0.13) scored higher on the EQ-5D. Although cancer survivors practiced more conscious health behavior in drinking and smoking, their engagement in exercise did not differ from that of non-cancer survivors. Since exercise engagement increases QoL in general, implementation of an educational program that promotes exercise engagement in cancer survivors may be required.

Career readiness, developmental work personality and age of onset in young adult central nervous system survivors

Purpose: The primary purpose of this paper is to undertake foundational research in the area of career readiness, work personality and age of onset with young adult central nervous system (CNS) survivors. Method: Participants for this study consisted of 43 individuals whose age range from 18 to 30 (M = 21.64, SD = 3.46), an average age of brain tumor onset of 9.50 years (SD = 4.73) and average years off of treatment of 7.25 years (SD = 5.80). Packets were distributed to survivors who were participating in a psychosocial cancer treatment program. Participants completed multiple career instruments and a demographic form. Differences between groups and among the variables were examined and size effect sizes were analyzed. Results: Young adult CNS survivors had significantly lower levels of work personality and career readiness when compared to young adult non-cancer survivors with CNS cancer with those between the ages of 6 and 12 reported significantly lower levels when compared to individuals diagnosed before age 6 and after the age of 13. Conclusions: Young adult CNS survivors at an increased risk for having lower levels of work personality and career readiness then a norm group comparison. Age of onset (between 6 and 12) may be at significant risk factor for developing poor or dysfunctional work and career behaviors.Implications for RehabilitationYoung adults with central nervous system (CNS) cancer are at particular risk for experiencing difficulties related to career and employment.Work personality and career readiness are two constructs that have been found to be related to one’s ability to meet the demands of work.Young adult CNS cancer survivors have lower levels of work personality and career readiness.Individuals diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 12 may be at particular risk and may need specific vocational rehabilitation interventions.The results of this study point to the need for comprehensive career and vocational services for young adult CNS cancer survivors.