Fear of Recurrence Among Lung Cancer Survivors: A Theoretical Model Validation.

BACKGROUND: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) significantly impacts the treatment and prognosis of lung cancer survivors. However, the mechanisms and factors contributing to FCR and its related consequences in lung cancer remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of the Lee-Jones Theoretical Model of FCR in lung cancer survivors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 257 lung cancer survivors who had undergone surgical treatment 1 year prior. The participants completed a comprehensive set of questionnaires, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the proposed model. RESULTS: The analysis confirmed direct relationships between family resilience, coping behaviors, illness perceptions, FCR triggers, and FCR. Fear of cancer recurrence was also found to have a direct negative impact on quality of life (QOL). Furthermore, levels of family resilience, coping behaviors, illness perceptions, and FCR triggers indirectly influenced QOL through their association with FCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides partial support for the validity of the Lee-Jones Theoretical Model of FCR in lung cancer survivors. The findings contribute to a better understanding of FCR in this population and lay the groundwork for targeted interventions. Effective strategies to reduce FCR in lung cancer survivors should focus on enhancing family resilience, improving disease cognition, minimizing FCR triggers, and guiding patients toward adopting positive coping styles, ultimately improving their QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Fear of cancer recurrence plays a vital role in relationships between internal and external cues and QOL. We can construct interventions to enhance the QOL of survivors based on the FCR influencing factors.

The dyadic relationship of supportive care needs with quality of life in lung cancer survivor and spousal caregiver couples.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the dyadic interrelationships between supportive care needs (SCNs) and quality of life (QOL) among lung cancer (LC) survivors and their spousal caregivers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 443 dyads were recruited from three tertiary hospitals in two cities (Fuzhou and Putian) in Fujian Province, China, between May 2020 and May 2021. The study shows that participants completed a sociodemographic information sheet, the SCNs survey, and answered the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire by telephone. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlations. This study used the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) with dyad analysis to examine the effect of LC survivors and spouses unmet SCNs on QOL. Results: LC survivor's and spouse's QOL levels were influenced by the level of unmet SCNs (the actor effect). LC survivors unmet SCNs were significantly negatively associated with their spouse's QOL (the partner effect). There were no partner effects between the spouse's unmet SCNs and the LC survivor's QOL. The APIM model produced an acceptable model fit [χ2/df = 2.84 (147), comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.94, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.93, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.07]. Conclusions: The level of unmet SCNs significantly affected QOL in survivor and spouse dyads. Although partner effects were weaker than actor effects, healthcare providers should develop tailored LC dyadic self- and family-management interventions to provide SCN-driven care to LC survivors and their spouses.