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Health‐related quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors of diverse sexual orientations
Author(s) -
Boehmer Ulrike,
Ozonoff Al,
Winter Michael,
Berklein Flora,
Potter Jennifer,
Hartshorn Kevan L.,
Ward Kevin C.,
Ceballos Rachel M.,
Clark Melissa A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.33762
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , sexual life , cancer , reproductive health , gerontology , environmental health , gynecology , population , nursing
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.