BENEFIT FINDING AND PERCEIVED SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE IN LONG-TERM PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS

You have accessJournal of UrologyGeneral & Epidemiological Trends & Socioeconomics: Practice Patterns, Quality of Life and Shared Decision Making I (MP02)1 Apr 2020MP02-20 BENEFIT FINDING AND PERCEIVED SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE IN LONG-TERM PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS Irène Lassmann*, Andreas Dinkel, Birgitt Marten-Mittag, Helga Schulwitz, Jürgen E. Gschwend, and Kathleen Herkommer Irène Lassmann*Irène Lassmann* More articles by this author , Andreas DinkelAndreas Dinkel More articles by this author , Birgitt Marten-MittagBirgitt Marten-Mittag More articles by this author , Helga SchulwitzHelga Schulwitz More articles by this author , Jürgen E. GschwendJürgen E. Gschwend More articles by this author , and Kathleen HerkommerKathleen Herkommer More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000000816.020AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Benefit finding (BF) refers to positive effects that may arise in the aftermath of a traumatic life event such as a cancer diagnosis. It involves disease-induced changes in different aspects of personal and social life such as enhanced interpersonal relationships or growing acceptance of life’s deficiencies. BF in short- to long-term cancer survivors has increasingly been investigated among diverse cancer populations over the last 20 years. The aim of the current study was to investigate the extent of BF along with the perceived severity of being diagnosed with cancer and its determinants in (very-) long-term prostate cancer (PC) survivors in Germany. METHODS: 4,252 PC survivors (97.9% radical prostatectomy) from the multi-center prospective German database “Familial PC” were available for analysis. Associations between BF (German version of the 17-item, 5-point Benefit Finding Scale), perceived severity of the disease (single item, 4-point scale), sociodemographic, clinical and psychological (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) variables were analyzed using correlations and hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean age at survey was 77.4±6.2 years with a mean follow-up of 14.8±3.8 years. 85.4% were living with a partner, 29.4% held a university degree. 19.6% had a biochemical recurrence at the time of survey and 13.5% were under PC-treatment. 25.1% perceived the severity of the disease as high, 28.4% as moderate, 32.6% as low and 13.9% did not perceive the disease as a severe life event. Higher perceived severity of the disease was correlated with depression and anxiety (p<0.001). Mean BF-score was 3.1±1.0 (range 1-5), 59.7% had a BF-score ≥3, 22.6% had a score of ≥4. Highest BF-scores emerged for the items “taught me to adjust to things I cannot change” (3.6±1.2), “has helped me take things as they come" (3.6±1.2), and “has shown me that all people need to be loved” (3.5±1.4). In the final regression model higher perceived severity of the disease, lower educational level, younger age at diagnosis, older age at survey, having children and a low level of depressive symptoms were predictive for higher BF (all p<0.05). The clinical course of the PC (biochemical recurrence during follow-up or at survey, ongoing treatment) was not significantly associated with BF. CONCLUSIONS: 60% of long-term PC survivors expressed moderate-to-high levels of BF. Even after a long period of time, a positive aftermath of PC is detectable. The perceived severity of the disease, sociodemographic and psychological factors were first and foremost predictive of BF, the clinical course of the PC had no significant effect on benefit finding. Source of Funding: none © 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 203Issue Supplement 4April 2020Page: e20-e20 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Irène Lassmann* More articles by this author Andreas Dinkel More articles by this author Birgitt Marten-Mittag More articles by this author Helga Schulwitz More articles by this author Jürgen E. Gschwend More articles by this author Kathleen Herkommer More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...