Abstract
Purpose: Despite the prevalence of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), understanding of factors underlying clinically significant FCR is limited. This study examined factors associated with greater FCR morbidity, according to a cognitive processing model, in cancer survivors who screened positively for clinically significant FCR seeking psychological treatment through the ConquerFear trial. Methods: Participants had completed treatment for breast, colorectal or melanoma cancer 2 months to 5 years previously and scored ≥ 13/36 on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF). Hierarchical regression analyses examined associations between demographic, medical and psychological variables, namely metacognitions (MCQ-30), post-traumatic stress symptoms (IES-R) and FCR (FCRI total score). Results: Two hundred and ten (95%) of the 222 cancer survivors who consented to the ConquerFear trial completed the baseline questionnaire. Participants were predominantly (89%) breast cancer survivors. The final regression model accounted for 68% of the variance in FCR (demographic and medical variables 13%, metacognitions 26%, post-traumatic stress symptoms 28%). Negative metacognitive beliefs about worry and intrusive post-traumatic stress symptoms were significant individual correlates of FCR, but negative beliefs about worry did not significantly moderate the impact of intrusions on FCR morbidity. Conclusions: Results provide partial support for the cognitive processing model of FCR. Psychological factors were found to play an important role in FCR morbidity after controlling for demographic/medical factors. More intrusive thoughts and negative beliefs about worry were strong independent predictors of FCR morbidity. Cancer survivors with clinically significant FCR may benefit from assessment for intrusive thoughts and metacognitions and delivery of trauma- and/or metacognitive-based interventions accordingly.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4207-4216 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Supportive Care in Cancer |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Cancer
- Fear of cancer recurrence
- Metacognitions
- Post-traumatic stress
- Supportive care
- Survivorship
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
Cite this
Medical, demographic and psychological correlates of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) morbidity in breast, colorectal and melanoma cancer survivors with probable clinically significant FCR seeking psychological treatment through the ConquerFear study. / the ConquerFear Authorship Group.
In: Supportive Care in Cancer, Vol. 26, No. 12, 01.12.2018, p. 4207-4216.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Medical, demographic and psychological correlates of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) morbidity in breast, colorectal and melanoma cancer survivors with probable clinically significant FCR seeking psychological treatment through the ConquerFear study
AU - the ConquerFear Authorship Group
AU - Smith, Allan ‘Ben’
AU - Sharpe, Louise
AU - Thewes, Belinda
AU - Turner, Jane
AU - Gilchrist, Jemma
AU - Fardell, Joanna E.
AU - Girgis, Afaf
AU - Tesson, Stephanie
AU - Descallar, Joseph
AU - Bell, Melanie L
AU - Beith, Jane
AU - Butow, Phyllis
AU - Beatty, Lisa
AU - Bennett, Barbara
AU - Brebach, Rachel
AU - Brock, Christina
AU - Butler, Sue
AU - Byrne, Donna
AU - Day, Sinead
AU - Diggens, Justine
AU - Fairclough, Amanda
AU - Faulkner, Therese
AU - Ftanou, Maria
AU - Grier, Maree
AU - Hill, Geraldine
AU - Jones, Tessa
AU - Kirsten, Laura
AU - McConaghey, Sue
AU - McKinnon, Sarah
AU - Mihalopoulos, Catherine
AU - Mireskandari, Shab
AU - Musiello, Toni
AU - Penhale, James
AU - Pollard, Annabel
AU - Rangganadhan, Anita
AU - Scealy, Marita
AU - Scott, Mary
AU - Shih, Sophy
AU - Teoh, Mey
AU - Tiller, Kerry
AU - Watt, Paula
PY - 2018/12/1
Y1 - 2018/12/1
N2 - Purpose: Despite the prevalence of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), understanding of factors underlying clinically significant FCR is limited. This study examined factors associated with greater FCR morbidity, according to a cognitive processing model, in cancer survivors who screened positively for clinically significant FCR seeking psychological treatment through the ConquerFear trial. Methods: Participants had completed treatment for breast, colorectal or melanoma cancer 2 months to 5 years previously and scored ≥ 13/36 on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF). Hierarchical regression analyses examined associations between demographic, medical and psychological variables, namely metacognitions (MCQ-30), post-traumatic stress symptoms (IES-R) and FCR (FCRI total score). Results: Two hundred and ten (95%) of the 222 cancer survivors who consented to the ConquerFear trial completed the baseline questionnaire. Participants were predominantly (89%) breast cancer survivors. The final regression model accounted for 68% of the variance in FCR (demographic and medical variables 13%, metacognitions 26%, post-traumatic stress symptoms 28%). Negative metacognitive beliefs about worry and intrusive post-traumatic stress symptoms were significant individual correlates of FCR, but negative beliefs about worry did not significantly moderate the impact of intrusions on FCR morbidity. Conclusions: Results provide partial support for the cognitive processing model of FCR. Psychological factors were found to play an important role in FCR morbidity after controlling for demographic/medical factors. More intrusive thoughts and negative beliefs about worry were strong independent predictors of FCR morbidity. Cancer survivors with clinically significant FCR may benefit from assessment for intrusive thoughts and metacognitions and delivery of trauma- and/or metacognitive-based interventions accordingly.
AB - Purpose: Despite the prevalence of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), understanding of factors underlying clinically significant FCR is limited. This study examined factors associated with greater FCR morbidity, according to a cognitive processing model, in cancer survivors who screened positively for clinically significant FCR seeking psychological treatment through the ConquerFear trial. Methods: Participants had completed treatment for breast, colorectal or melanoma cancer 2 months to 5 years previously and scored ≥ 13/36 on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF). Hierarchical regression analyses examined associations between demographic, medical and psychological variables, namely metacognitions (MCQ-30), post-traumatic stress symptoms (IES-R) and FCR (FCRI total score). Results: Two hundred and ten (95%) of the 222 cancer survivors who consented to the ConquerFear trial completed the baseline questionnaire. Participants were predominantly (89%) breast cancer survivors. The final regression model accounted for 68% of the variance in FCR (demographic and medical variables 13%, metacognitions 26%, post-traumatic stress symptoms 28%). Negative metacognitive beliefs about worry and intrusive post-traumatic stress symptoms were significant individual correlates of FCR, but negative beliefs about worry did not significantly moderate the impact of intrusions on FCR morbidity. Conclusions: Results provide partial support for the cognitive processing model of FCR. Psychological factors were found to play an important role in FCR morbidity after controlling for demographic/medical factors. More intrusive thoughts and negative beliefs about worry were strong independent predictors of FCR morbidity. Cancer survivors with clinically significant FCR may benefit from assessment for intrusive thoughts and metacognitions and delivery of trauma- and/or metacognitive-based interventions accordingly.
KW - Cancer
KW - Fear of cancer recurrence
KW - Metacognitions
KW - Post-traumatic stress
KW - Supportive care
KW - Survivorship
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048140276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85048140276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-018-4294-y
DO - 10.1007/s00520-018-4294-y
M3 - Article
VL - 26
SP - 4207
EP - 4216
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
SN - 0941-4355
IS - 12
ER -