Fear of cancer recurrence, supportive care needs, and the utilization of psychosocial services in cancer survivors: A cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is the top-ranked psychological concern in cancer survivors. We examined the prevalence of FCR and the relationships among FCR, supportive care needs, and the utilization of psychosocial services among Chinese cancer survivors. METHODS: This cross-sectional, correlational study included 311 cancer survivors within 5 years of survivorship in Hong Kong. The participants were invited to complete an online survey: the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form to assess FCR; the 34-item Supportive Care Needs-Short Form to assess supportive care needs, and a self-constructed questionnaire to assess psychosocial services utilization. A score of ≥34 indicated FCR. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the participants surveyed, 38.3% were classified as having FCR. The most frequently reported supportive care needs in five domains were in the psychological domain (M = 39.5; SD = 27.6), followed by the health system and information domain (M = 38.6, SD = 26.9). Of the three categories of psychosocial services, informational/educational healthcare services were the most frequently utilized (81%), while the least utilized services were mental health/psychological well-being support (46.9%). FCR was a consistent factor that was associated with needs in five domains (b = 8.73-39.58, all p < 0.001). However, FCR was not associated with any of the three categories of psychosocial services utilization. CONCLUSION: FCR is frequent in cancer survivors. FCR may play an important role in supportive care needs, but not in psychosocial services utilization. There is an increasing demand to bridge the service gap between the need for and the use of mental health and psychological well-being services.

Psychometric Testing of the Traditional Chinese Version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form in Cancer Survivors.

Background and Purpose: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a frequent psychological adverse effect among cancer survivors. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Traditional Chinese version of the 12-item Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF). Methods: An online survey was conducted with 311 cancer survivors in Hong Kong. The factor structure, known-group validity, and internal consistency reliability were examined. Results: The values measuring validity is good, with acceptable goodness-of-fit indexes (RMSEA = 0.073, SRMR = 0.042, CFI = 0.954), moderate to large correlations with unmet needs (0.339-0.816), being female, younger, had completed treatment ≤ 2 years, and had undergone chemotherapy/radiotherapy scored significantly higher on the FoP-Q-SF. The Cronbach's alpha of the scale was .922. Conclusion: High validity and reliability indicate the scale's value in assessing FCR in Hong Kong cancer survivors.

Purification, quantification, and functional analysis of Complement Factor H.

Complement Factor H (FH) is an abundant, non-enzymic plasma/serum glycoprotein, which has a major role in regulating activation of the complement system. It can be purified from human plasma/serum by affinity chromatography, using a monoclonal anti-FH antibody as ligand. Other affinity chromatography ligands, including cardiolipin and trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA), can be used to purify human FH and also FH from a wide range of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, bony fish. Human FH protein concentration can be quantified by sandwich ELISA. The activity of FH is generally measured by assays which detect the cleavage, by complement factor I, of the complement protein C3b to form iC3b. Cleavage occurs only in the presence of a cofactor, and FH is one of a small number of cofactors for this reaction.

Feasibility and effectiveness of a Chen-style Tai Chi programme for stress reduction in junior secondary school students.

Stress is common in junior secondary school students (JSSS). This study aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a Chen-style Tai Chi programme for stress reduction in JSSS. A non-equivalent pre-test/post-test control group design was adopted, and a convenience sample of 69 JSSS was recruited. The experimental group (n = 32) joined a Chen-style Tai Chi programme, which included 10 sessions of 80-minute Tai Chi training (one session per week). The control group (n = 37) proceeded with self-study. Participants' stress levels were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. Feasibility was determined as the percentage of participants completing and attending the programme. Effectiveness was measured as the significant difference in changes in stress levels before and after the intervention between the two groups. Results preliminarily supported that the programme was feasible for JSSS. Completion rate was 100%, and attendance rate was 90%. However, no significant difference was noted in changes in stress levels before and after the intervention between the two groups. The potential health benefits of Tai Chi could not be detected owing to the restrictions imposed by the research setting and study limitations. The present study represents initial efforts in this direction and serves as reference for future study.