Health‐related quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors of diverse sexual orientations. Issue 20 (8th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boehmer, Ulrike; Ozonoff, Al; Winter, Michael; Berklein, Flora; Potter, Jennifer; Hartshorn, Kevan L.; Ward, Kevin C.; Ceballos, Rachel M.; Clark, Melissa A.
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 127:Issue 20(2021)
• Page Start: 3847
• Page End: 3855
• Publication Date: 2021-07-08
• Subjects: cancer survivorship -- colorectal neoplasms -- quality of life -- sexual and gender minorities; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the health‐related quality of life of sexual minority survivors in comparison with heterosexual survivors. Methods: Four hundred eighty eligible survivors participated in a telephone survey that measured survivors' outcomes, which consisted of physical and mental quality of life and self‐rated fair or poor health. These survivors were diagnosed with stage I, II, or III colorectal cancer an average of 3 years before the survey and were recruited from 4 cancer registries. Using forward selection with generalized linear models or logistic regression models, the authors considered 4 domains—personal factors, environmental factors, health condition characteristics, and body function and structure—as correlates for each survivorship outcome. Results: The authors found that unadjusted physical quality of life and self‐rated fair/poor health were similar for all survivors. Sexual minority survivors had poorer unadjusted mental quality of life in comparison with heterosexual survivors. After adjustments for covariates, this difference was no longer statistically significant. Three domains (personal factors, health condition characteristics, and body function and structure) explained colorectal cancer survivors' fair/poor health and 46% of the variance in physical quality of life, whereas 56% of the variance in mental quality of life was explained by personal factors, body function and structure, and environmental factors. Conclusions: This study has identified modifiable factors that can be used to improve cancer survivors' quality of life and are, therefore, relevant to ongoing efforts to improve the survivorship experience. Abstract : Understanding the factors that contribute to the poor quality of life of diverse colorectal cancer survivors is critical for the development of effective patient‐centered interventions. This study identifies modifiable factors that can be used to improve the quality of life of sexual minority and heterosexual cancer survivors and are, therefore, relevant to ongoing efforts to improve the survivorship experience.