False-positive cancer screens and health-related quality of life

By design, screening tests are imperfect-unresponsive to some cancers (false negatives) while occasionally raising suspicion of cancer where none exists (false positives). This pilot study describes patients' responses to having a false-positive screening test for cancer, and identifies screening effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The pilot findings suggest issues important for incorporation in future evaluations of the impact of screening for prostate, lung, colon, or ovarian (PLCO) cancers. Seven focus groups were conducted to identify the nature and meaning of all phases of PLCO screening. Minnesota participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial who had completed screening, with at least 1 false-positive screen, participated (N = 47). Participants' reactions to abnormal screens and diagnostic work-ups were primarily emotional (eg, anxiety and distress), not physical, and ultimately positive for the majority. Health distress and fear of cancer and death were the major negative aspects of HRQoL identified. These concepts are not typically included in generic HRQoL questionnaires like the SF-36, but are highly relevant to PLCO screening. Clinicians were regarded as underestimating the discomfort of follow-up diagnostic testing. However, relief and assurance appeared to eventually outweigh the negative emotions for most participants. Implications for oncology nurses include the need to consider the emotional consequences of screening in association with screen reliability and validity.     

Health-related quality of life 18 months after breast cancer: comparison with the general population of Queensland, Australia

Goals of work  Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was compared between urban breast cancer survivors (BCS) and the general female population in urban Queensland, and correlates were identified. Materials and methods  HRQoL data were collected at 6, 12, and 18 months post-diagnosis from a population-based sample of 287 women, aged 74 years or younger, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. The urban comparison group was drawn from a population-based survey conducted in 2004 and included 675 women aged 30–74 years with no prior history of breast cancer. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General questionnaire was used to measure HRQoL in both groups. Main results  Younger (<50 years) BCS reported lower HRQoL at 6 months (mean, 80.2 vs 86.8) but were comparable to the general population by 12 months post-diagnosis (mean = 87.3). In contrast, HRQoL of older (50+ years) BCS at 6 months (mean = 87.1) was comparable to their general population peers (mean = 86.0) and was clinically better 18 months post-diagnosis (mean = 91.0). Compared with the general population, physical and emotional well-being among younger BCS was impaired at 6 months post-diagnosis (mean, 24.9 vs 21.0 and 21.0 vs 18.0, respectively) and did not improve over time for emotional well-being (mean = 18.8). These results persisted after adjustment for treatment-related factors, although receiving chemotherapy was an important correlate of HRQoL among younger BCS at 6 months post-diagnosis (−14.9). Conclusions  This study not only shows that the HRQoL of BCS improves between 6 and 18 months post-diagnosis but also suggests that emotional well-being among younger BCS may benefit from targeted intervention.     

Exploratory factor analysis of the Cancer Problems in Living Scale: a report from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors

People diagnosed with cancer face a variety of problems, which can impact their quality of life (QoL). Identifying these problems is an important part of understanding how people adjust to cancer. This study identified the underlying factor structure of the Cancer Problems in Living Scale (CPILS), a 29-item measure of the problems that cancer survivors may face. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to data from 5155 cancer survivors included in the American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors-I (SCS-I), a national, population-based study of survivors of 10 different types of cancer. Results of the factor analysis identified four factors in the CPILS: 1) physical distress (PD) (Cronbach's alpha=0.84); 2) emotional distress (ED) (Cronbach's alpha=0.87); 3) employment/financial (EF) problems (Cronbach's alpha=0.78); and 4) fear of recurrence (FR) (Cronbach's alpha=0.84). The convergent and divergent validity of the factors is demonstrated by correlations with relevant measures of physical and emotional functioning. The four valid and reliable factors demonstrate the utility of the CPILS in both clinical and research settings. The emergence of a separate factor for FR shows that this is a unique aspect of the cancer survivor experience, distinct from general ED.     

Associations between adjuvant endocrine therapy and onset of physical and emotional concerns among breast cancer survivors

Background

Breast cancer survivors often receive long-term adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) to reduce recurrence risk. Adherence to AET is suboptimal, which may be due to the experience of symptoms and/or concerns. Few studies have comprehensively assessed self-reported concerns between those who currently, previously or have never received AET. The study objective is to describe self-reported physical and emotional concerns of breast cancer survivors who are current, prior, or never-recipients of AET.

Methods

Secondary analysis was performed on a subset of survey data collected in the 2010 LIVESTRONG Survey. Breast cancer survivors (n?=?1,013, mean 5.4 years post-diagnosis) reported on 14 physical and eight emotional concerns that began after diagnosis and were experienced within 6 months of participation in the survey. Bivariate analyses examined the prevalence of each concern by AET status. The relationships between AET and burden of physical or emotional concerns were modeled with logistic regression.

Results

More than 50 % of the participants reported currently experiencing cognitive issues, fatigue, fear of recurrence, emotional distress, and identity/grief issues. Thyroid dysfunction and stigma concerns were more common among participants with prior AET (p?<?0.01), while fear of recurrence, emotional distress, and concern about appearance were more common among those currently receiving AET (p?<?0.01). Fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and pain were more common among prior and current AET recipients (p?<?0.01). In adjusted models, receipt of AET was associated with a higher number of physical, but not emotional concerns. A higher number of concerns was associated with younger age, having children, receipt of chemotherapy, longer duration of cancer treatment, and shorter time since diagnosis (p?<?0.01).

Conclusions

Breast cancer survivors who received AET were at risk of developing a variety of physical and emotional concerns, many of which persisted after treatment. These findings suggest the importance of developing individualized, supportive resources for breast cancer survivors.     

Quality of life and symptom attribution in long-term colon cancer survivors

Aims and objectives This study investigates how long‐term colon cancer survivors evaluate their health, functional status and quality of life, and whether there are differences based on age, gender or ethnicity. Methods Thirty long‐term survivors of at least stage I colon cancer were interviewed in person between December 2004 and May 2005. The interview protocol included the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short Form, Quality of Life – Cancer Survivor, and study‐specific questions that asked about physical and non‐physical problems they attributed to colon cancer. Results Substantial percentages of survivors attributed their problems with lack of energy (83%), sexual functioning (67%), bowel problems (63%), poor body image (47%) and emotional problems (40%) to having had colon cancer. Of those problems attributed to colon cancer, sexual functioning and pain were given the highest severity rankings by survivors. The majority of long‐term colon cancer survivors reported distress regarding future diagnostic tests, a second cancer, and spread of cancer. Women reported greater problems completing daily activities as a result of physical problems (P = 0.003) and more pain (P = 0.07) than men. African Americans appear to report marginally better overall quality of life (P = 0.07) and psychological well‐being than whites (P = 0.07). Conclusion The majority of long‐term colon cancer survivors with resected colon cancer and disease‐free for 5 years reported problems with low energy, sexual functioning and bowel problems.     

Psychological distress of female cancer caregivers: effects of type of cancer and caregivers’ spirituality

Introduction This study examined the effects of the survivor’s cancer type (gender-specific vs nongender-specific) and the female caregiver’s spirituality and caregiving stress on the caregiver’s psychological distress. Cancer caregivers, who were nominated by cancer survivors, participated in a nationwide quality-of-life survey with 252 caregivers providing complete data for the variables. Patients and methods Breast and ovarian cancer were categorized as gender-specific types of cancer (GTC+), whereas kidney, lung, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and skin melanoma cancers were GTC-. Spirituality, caregiving stress, and psychological distress were measured using the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy—spiritual well-being, stress overload subscale, and profile of mood states—short form, respectively. Results and discussion Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that female caregivers whose care recipient was diagnosed with a nongender specific type of cancer (GTC- group) reported higher psychological distress than did the GTC+ group. The GTC- group also reported lower spirituality and higher caregiving stress related to higher psychological distress than did the GTC+ group. In addition, the beneficial effect of spirituality on reducing psychological distress was more pronounced among the GTC- group or when caregiving stress increased. Conclusions Our findings suggest that female caregivers of survivors with a nongender-specific cancer may benefit from programs designed to reduce their psychological distress, and caregivers who are low in spirituality need help to derive faith and meaning in the context of cancer care.     

Exploring the relationship between coping,social support and health-related quality of life for prostate cancer survivors: A review of the literature

ObjectiveMen affected by prostate cancer can experience profound physical and psychological sequalae; and unmet support needs are prevalent in men affected by this disease. Social support has been linked to improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and coping strategies, but little is known about the relationship between social support, coping and HRQoL for prostate cancer survivors. This review aims to identify the mechanism through which social support influences the relationship between coping and HRQoL for prostate cancer survivors.MethodsA literature review was conducted from the earliest date available to January 2013. Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and ASSIA databases were searched using terms relevant to coping, social support and prostate cancer. Studies that explored the relationship between coping, social support and HRQoL were included.Results175 studies were assessed for potential inclusion with 11 publications included in this review. Studies predominately reported main effects of perceived social support on HRQoL, and few studies assessed moderation and mediation effects of coping and social support on HRQoL. Perceived social support was frequently assessed, but few studies evaluated the effects of received social support or satisfaction with social support on HRQoL.ConclusionsThe evidence base is under-developed at present. Future research should use a multidimensional inventory of the social support constructs to examine how each of the constructs influences the relationship between coping and HRQoL over time. This may facilitate the development of appropriately targeted social support interventions that are theoretically driven to address the unmet support needs of prostate cancer survivors.     

Social support during intensive care unit stay might improve mental impairment and consequently health-related quality of life in survivors of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome

Introduction  

We investigated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and persistent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in long-term survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We wished to evaluate the influence of PTSD on HRQoL and to investigate the influence of perceived social support during intensive care unit (ICU) treatment on both PTSD symptoms and HRQoL.     

Health-related quality of life during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

The purpose of the present study was twofold: first, to describe changes of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) during the adjuvant treatment among postmenopausal women with breast cancer; second, in the same population to identify the best predictors of Overall Quality of Life (QoL) after treatment, from perceived functioning, symptoms, emotional distress and clinical/demographic variables measured at baseline. The study group was 150 women (> or = 55 years of age) scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy (CT, n=75) or radiotherapy (RT, n=75). They were examined before (baseline), during and after completing the treatment. Data about QoL, perceived functioning, symptoms and emotional distress were collected with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-QLQ-C30, BR23 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. The general finding was that the adjuvant treatments were associated with decrease in overall QoL, physical and role functioning, anxiety and body image, as well as with increase in fatigue, dyspnoea, pain, nausea/vomiting, constipation and systemic therapy side effects measured over time. For women receiving CT, better emotional functioning and less pain at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment. For women receiving RT, better physical and emotional functioning, less breast symptoms and lower tumour stage at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment.     

Metacognitive Therapy for Emotional Distress in Adult Cancer Survivors: A Case Series

Many adult cancer survivors experience persistent emotional distress after completing cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to test the potential of a brief transdiagnostic psychological intervention—metacognitive therapy (MCT)—in reducing emotional distress in adult cancer survivors. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design with 3- and 6-months follow-up was used to evaluate the effects of MCT in four patients consecutively referred to a psycho-oncology service. Each patient received six 1-h sessions of MCT. Anxiety, depression, worry/rumination, fear of cancer recurrence and metacognitive beliefs were assessed using self-report questionnaires. MCT was associated with clinically significant reductions in anxiety, depression, fear of cancer recurrence, worry/rumination and metacognitive beliefs at the end of treatment, and gains were maintained in all patients to 3-months follow-up and in three out of four patients to 6-months follow-up. MCT is a promising brief transdiagnostic approach to psychological morbidity in adult survivors of cancer. Larger scale controlled trials are now required.     

Validation of a modified Rotterdam Symptom Checklist for use with cancer patients in the United States

The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL) is a well-known instrument for the assessment of symptom-related distress among cancer patients. Despite its broad application, the utility of the RSCL with patients of some cancers is hindered by the omission of several important physical symptoms and methodological limitations of previous validation studies. The aims of the present study were to modify the RSCL through the addition of several physical symptoms and to subsequently validate the modified version of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL-M) with a heterogeneous sample of cancer patients from the United States. A total of 1,005 male and female cancer patients from two midwestern states completed the RSCL-M and several other self-report instruments. Results indicated that the RSCL-M is a reliable and valid instrument for use with cancer patients in the United States and is sensitive to differences in physical distress across groups expected to have distinct symptom-related distress profiles.     

Perceptions of risk among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke

Purpose

Despite the fact that childhood and young adult cancer survivors are at increased risk for chronic health problems as a result of their cancer treatment, many use tobacco, thereby increasing their risks. Perceptions of risk related to tobacco use can be targeted for interventions aimed at improving health behaviors for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. Understanding the covariates of perceptions of health risks among young adult survivors who smoke will help to determine targets for intervention.

Method

Three hundred seventy-four participants who were diagnosed with cancer prior to age 35, currently between 18 and 55 years of age, and current smokers were recruited as part of a larger smoking cessation study, Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2). Data were collected by telephone survey.

Results

Overall, women had the highest perception of risk for serious health problems, a second cancer, and heart problems. Additionally, those participants who were dependent on nicotine endorsed that they were at higher risk of serious health problems and second cancers, but not heart problems. Finally, Hodgkin lymphoma survivors reported that they were at increased risk for second cancers and heart problems compared to their “healthy” peers.

Conclusion

Young adult cancer survivors who smoke correctly perceived some of their increased health risks. Additional motivation and education is needed for those young adult cancer survivors who perceive their increased health risks yet continue to smoke. Further education is needed for young survivors so they have a fully appropriate sense of risk, especially as it relates to their tobacco use.     

Exploring the Unmet Supportive Care Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors Experiencing Psychological Distress: Qualitative Study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the unmet supportive care needs of breast cancer survivors who experience psychological distress.Data SourcesA qualitative study design with inductive content analysis was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 Turkish breast cancer survivors who experienced psychological distress. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used to report the study.ConclusionThree key themes emerged from data analysis: sources of psychological distress, unmet supportive care needs, and barriers to support. The survivors who experienced psychological distress defined a variety of unmet supportive care needs, in the areas of information support, psychological/emotional support, social support, and individualized health care support. They also described personal and health professional−related factors as barriers.Implications for Nursing PracticeNurses should assess psychosocial well-being and supportive care needs of breast cancer survivors. Survivors should be supported to discuss their experiences of symptoms in the early survival phase, and they should be referred to an appropriate supportive care resource. A multidisciplinary survivorship services model is needed to offer posttreatment psychological support routinely in Turkey. Early, effective psychological care integrated into follow-up services for survivors can be protective against psychological morbidity.     

Psychosocial aspects of palliative care in advanced cancer.

One hundred patients with advanced cancer referred to a palliative care service were evaluated for psychosocial distress using a standard questionnaire. A high incidence of emotional upset, financial distress, and home-care problems was found. Psychosocial distress is common among patients (and their families) with advanced cancer and may have a significant impact on provision of optimal care. Community services are often inadequate. A dedicated palliative care service employing a multidisciplinary approach can best provide care. We make specific recommendations about how to combat psychosocial distress using specific administrative and management techniques.     

Quality of life in young adult survivors of childhood cancer

In recent years the necessity of measuring quality of life in childhood cancer survivors has been stressed. This paper gives an overview of the results of studies into the quality of life (QL) of young adult survivors of childhood cancer and suggest areas for future research. The review located 30 empirical studies published up to 2001. The results are described in terms of the following QL dimensions: physical functioning (QL, general health), psychological functioning (overall emotional functioning, depression and anxiety, self-esteem), social functioning (education, employment, insurance, living situation, marital status and family), and sexual functioning. Factors related to survivors' QL are reported: demographics and illness- and treatment related variables. Although the literature yields some inconsistent findings, a number of clear trends can be identified: (a) most survivors reported being in good health, with the exception of some bone tumour survivors; (b) most survivors function well psychologically; (c) survivors of CNS tumours and survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are at risk for educational deficits; (d) job discrimination, difficulties in obtaining work and problems in obtaining health and life insurance were reported; (e) survivors have lower rates of marriage and parenthood; (f) survivors worry about their reproductive capacity and/or about future health problems their children might experience as a result of their cancer history. There is a need for methodological studies that measure QL among survivors of childhood cancer more precisely by taking into account the effects of the severity of the cancer and the long-term impact of different treatments. Additional data are needed to help us understand the needs of survivors and to identify those subgroups of survivors who are at greatest risk for the adverse sequelae of the disease and its treatment.     

A brief intervention for fatigue management in breast cancer survivors

The purpose of this randomized control trial was to verify the effectiveness of a brief group intervention that combines stress management psycho-education and physical activity (ie, independent variable) intervention in reducing fatigue and improving energy level, quality of life (mental and physical), fitness (VO 2submax), and emotional distress (ie, dependent variables) in breast cancer survivors. This study applied Lazarus and Folkman stress-coping theoretical framework, as well as Salmon's unifying theory of physical activity. Eighty-seven French-speaking women who had completed their treatments for nonmetastatic breast cancer at a university hospital in Quebec City, Canada, were randomly assigned to either the group intervention (experimental) or the usual-care (control) condition. Data were collected at baseline, postintervention, and at 3-month follow-up. The 4-week group intervention was cofacilitated by 2 nurses. Results showed that participants in the intervention group showed greater improvement in fatigue, energy level, and emotional distress at 3-month follow-up, and physical quality of life at postintervention, compared with the participants in the control group. These results suggest that a brief psycho-educational group intervention focusing on active coping strategies and physical activity is beneficial to cancer survivors after breast cancer treatments.     

Distress among young adult cancer survivors: a cohort study

Purpose

Being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult can lead to significant psychological distress and impaired quality of life. Compared to children and older adults diagnosed with cancer, fewer studies have addressed psychological distress among young adult cancer survivors. This study sought to identify the prevalence of, and factors associated with, distress among young adult cancer survivors (ages 18–39).

Methods

Young adult cancer survivors (N?=?335, mean age?=?31.8, women?=?68.4 %) were recruited from an online research panel and stratified by cohort (time postactive treatment: 0–12, 13–24, and 25–60 months). Participants completed measures assessing demographic and clinical characteristics, global impact of cancer, cancer-related education and work interruption, and cancer-specific distress using the impact of event scale (IES).

Results

The mean score on the IES (M?=?31.0, range?=?0–75) was above the cut point of 20, suggesting clinically elevated distress. Analysis of covariance revealed significant main effects for cohort, global impact and cancer-related education/work interruption, and an interaction between cohort and cancer-related education/work interruption on distress. Although there was no significant effect of education/work interruption on distress for those in the 0–12 month cohort (p?=?.88), survivors in the 13–24 and 25–60 month cohorts reporting education/work interruption were significantly more distressed than those not reporting education/work interruption in the respective cohorts (p?<?.05).

Conclusions

Young adult cancer survivors face unique challenges. These data underscore the importance of attending to cancer-related distress beyond the completion of treatment and may help inform targeted interventions to prevent or reduce significant distress and related sequelae in this population.     

社会关系质量在乳腺癌幸存者病耻感与社交回避及苦恼间的中介效应

目的 探讨乳腺癌幸存者社会关系质量在病耻感与社交回避及苦恼间的中介效应。方法 采用便利抽样法,选取于2019年5—9月在山东第一医科大学附属肿瘤医院、山东中医药大学附属医院乳腺外科门诊及病房复诊的228例乳腺癌幸存者作为研究对象,采用一般情况调查表、社会影响量表、社会关系质量量表和社交回避及苦恼量表对其进行调查,采用结构方程模型检验社会关系质量在病耻感与社交回避及苦恼间的中介效应。结果 乳腺癌幸存者病耻感、社会关系质量、社交回避及苦恼总分分别为（56.63±9.68）分、（50.53±6.08）分、（9.39±6.63）分;社会关系质量与病耻感、社交回避及苦恼总分均呈负相关（r=-0.463,-0.552;P<0.01）,病耻感与社交回避及苦恼总分呈正相关（r=0.532,P<0.01）;结构方程模型结果显示,病耻感对社交回避及苦恼有直接（正向）效应（β=0.421,P<0.01）,社会关系质量对社交回避及苦恼有直接（负向）效应（β=-0.404,P<0.01）,社会关系质量在病耻感与社交回避及苦恼之间起部分中介效应（β=0.211,P<0.01）。结论 乳腺癌幸存者社交回避及苦恼处于中等水平,社会关系质量在病耻感与社交回避及苦恼间起部分中介效应。建议在改善乳腺癌幸存者社交状况的干预工作中应重视社会关系质量的影响,以增强该人群的社会关系质量为依托,减轻病耻感,促进其社会交往。     

Prevalence of cancer chemotherapy-related problems,their relation to health-related quality of life and associated supportive care: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the treatment-associated problems that most impact on patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy, how problems relate to experiences of supportive care and variations in experience between cancer treatment centres.

Methods

A survey administered to patients at six cancer centres in England explored variations of prevalence of 17 cancer chemotherapy-associated problems and associated supportive care. Problem items were identified as the most frequently experienced and severe when experienced in a scoping and consensus exercise. A health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure, the EQ5D, was included to measure impact of problems.

Results

A total of 363 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 43 %, median 61 %). The most prevalent problem was ‘tiredness/fatigued’ (90 %), followed by ‘changes in taste & smell’ (69 %) and ‘difficulty managing everyday tasks’ (61 %). Significant variations in problem prevalence existed between centres, and some common problems were rarely reported in the literature. Regression analysis found that almost all problems were significantly associated with HRQoL, with social/emotional problems having as much impact on HRQoL as physical/psychological side effects of treatment. Greatest effect size was for difficulty managing everyday tasks. Respondents reported significant variations in supportive care between centres, with more supportive care received for physical/psychological problems than for social/emotional problems. Findings indicated that patients who received increased supportive care experienced less severe problems.

Conclusion

The most common and distressing chemotherapy-associated problems were identified. These problems are mitigated by quality supportive care. Routine measurement and monitoring of problem items and supportive care are warranted to facilitate benchmarking and service improvements both within and between cancer centres.

     

Suicide ideation in stomach cancer survivors and possible risk factors

Purpose

Although the suicide rate of cancer survivors is higher than that of the general population, few studies have examined the potential risk factors. We assessed suicide ideation (SI) and investigated its correlates among survivors of stomach cancer, which is one of the most prevalent cancers in Korea.

Methods

We surveyed 378 stage I–III stomach cancer survivors who had been disease free for at least 1 year. The survey contained demographic questions and quality of life assessments from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and its stomach cancer-specific module, the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Brief Fatigue Inventory, and one question from the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results

We found that 131/378 stomach cancer survivors (34.7 %) experienced SI. Univariate analyses showed that SI was significantly associated with income, comorbidity, smoking, and the following quality of life factors: general health status, emotional functioning, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, dyspnea, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, financial problems, eating restriction, anxiety, dry mouth, trouble belching, hair loss, body image, existential well-being, and social support. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed that SI was independently associated with diarrhea (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.84; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.44–5.62), hair loss (aOR 2.77; 95 % CI 1.04–7.36), existential well-being (aOR 6.18; 95 % CI 2.91–13.1), and usual fatigue (aOR 2.29; 95 % CI 1.30–4.06).

Conclusion

Our findings reveal a high prevalence of SI among stomach cancer survivors and identify health-related quality of life issues such as diarrhea, hair loss, existential well-being, and fatigue as important risk factors of SI.