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Worse patient–physician relationship is associated with more fear of cancer recurrence (Deimos Study): A study of the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)
Author(s) -
Alkan Ali,
Yaşar Arzu,
Güç Zeynep Gülsüm,
Gürbüz Mustafa,
Başoğlu Tuğba,
Sezgin Göksu Sema,
Buğdaycı Başal Fatma,
Türk Hacı Mehmet,
Özdemir Özlem,
Yeşil Çınkır Havva,
Güven Deniz Can,
Kuş Tülay,
Türker Sema,
Koral Lokman,
Karakaş Yusuf,
Ak Naziye,
Paydaş Semra,
Karcı Ebru,
Demiray Atike Gökçen,
Demir Atakan,
Alan Özkan,
Keskin Özge,
Nayır Erdinç,
Tanrıverdi Özgür,
Yavuzşen Tuğba,
Yumuk Perran Fulden,
Ateş Öztürk,
Coşkun Hasan Şenol,
Turhal Serdar,
Çay Şenler Filiz
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.13296
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , anxiety , turkish , cancer , distress , palliative care , multivariate analysis , physical therapy , family medicine , psychiatry , clinical psychology , nursing , linguistics , philosophy
Objective Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is an important psychological trauma associated with reduction in the quality of life, disruptions in the level of adjustment, emotional distress and anxiety. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of patient–physician relationship on FCR. Methods The study was designed as a multicentre survey study. The cancer survivors, who were under remission, were evaluated with structured questionnaires. Patient–physician relationship (PPR) scale in which higher scores indicate better relationship and FCR inventory was used. Results Between January and April 2019, 1,580 patients were evaluated. The median age was 57.0 (19–88), and 66% were female. There was high level of FCR scores in 51% of participants. There was a negative correlation between PPR and FCR scores ( r = −.134, p < .001). In multivariate analysis, young age, female gender, history of metastasectomy and worse PPR were associated with high levels of FCR. Conclusion It is the first data showing the adverse impact of worse PPR on FCR. The strategies to improve the PPR should be practised. In addition, the cancer survivors, who are under the risk of FCR, should be evaluated and managed.