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Relationship between individual and family characteristics and psychosocial factors in persons with familial pancreatic cancer
Author(s) -
Underhill Meghan,
Hong Fangxin,
Lawrence Janette,
Blonquist Traci,
Syngal Sapna
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4712
Subject(s) - worry , psychosocial , pancreatic cancer , risk perception , distress , medicine , cancer , clinical psychology , psychology , perception , psychiatry , anxiety , neuroscience
Objective Describe relationships between self‐reported personal demographics or familial characteristics and psychosocial outcomes (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Global Health, Impact of Event Scale‐Revised [pancreatic cancer risk–related distress], cancer risk perception, and cancer worry) in participants with inherited or familial pancreatic cancer risk. Methods A multisite cross sectional survey of adults with elevated pancreatic cancer risk based on family history. All variables were summarized with descriptive statistics. To assess univariate associations, t test and chi‐square/Fisher's exact test were used, and backward model selection was used in multivariable analysis. Results Respondents (N = 132) reported moderate to high frequency of cancer worry and 59.3% perceived a 50% or more perceived lifetime risk for pancreatic cancer, which far exceeds objective risk estimates. Cancer worry was associated with female gender ( P = .03) and pancreatic cancer risk specific distress ( P = .05). Higher‐risk perception was associated with having a high school education or less ( P = .001), higher distress ( P = .02), and cancer worry ( P = .008) and family cancer death experience ( P = .02). Higher distress was associated with experience as a caregiver to a seriously ill family member in the past 5 years ( P = .006). Conclusions Individuals with inherited or familial pancreatic cancer risk experience cancer worry, distress, and have increased risk perception, particularly in the period following caring for a loved one with cancer. Routine evaluation of distress in this setting, as well as the development of supportive care resources, will help support patients living with risk for pancreatic cancer.