Social support, self‐efficacy for decision‐making, and follow‐up care use in long‐term cancer survivors. Issue 7 (30th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Forsythe, Laura P.; Alfano, Catherine M.; Kent, Erin E.; Weaver, Kathryn E.; Bellizzi, Keith; Arora, Neeraj; Aziz, Noreen; Keel, Gretchen; Rowland, Julia H.
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 23:Issue 7(2014)
• Page Start: 788
• Page End: 796
• Publication Date: 2014-01-30
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3480
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3480-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Cancer survivors play an important role in coordinating their follow‐up care and making treatment‐related decisions. Little is known about how modifiable factors such as social support are associated with active participation in follow‐up care. This study tests associations between social support, cancer‐related follow‐up care use, and self‐efficacy for participation in decision‐making related to follow‐up care (SEDM). We also identified sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with social support among long‐term survivors.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3480-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The FOllow‐up Care Use among Survivors study is a cross‐sectional, population‐based survey of breast, prostate, colon, and gynecologic cancer survivors (<italic>n</italic> = 1522) 4–14 years post‐diagnosis. Multivariable regression models were used to test associations between perceived social support (tangible and emotional/informational support modeled separately), follow‐up care use (past 2 years), and SEDM, as well as to identify factors associated with perceived support.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3480-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Neither support type was associated with follow‐up care use (all <italic>p</italic> > 0.05), although marital status was uniquely, positively associated with follow‐up care use (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). Both tangible support (B for a standard deviation increase (SE) = 9.75(3.15), <italic>p</italic> < 0.05) and emotional/informational support (B(SE) = 12.61(3.05), <italic>p</italic> < 0.001) were modestly associated with SEDM. Being married, having adequate financial resources, history of recurrence, and better perceived health status were associated with higher perceived tangible and emotional support (all <italic>p</italic> < 0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3480-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>While perceived social support may facilitate survivor efficacy for participation in decision‐making during cancer follow‐up care, other factors, including marital satisfaction, appear to influence follow‐up care use. Marital status and social support may be important factors to consider in survivorship care planning. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>