Exploring Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) in Cancer Survivors from a Medical Social Work Perspective: A Qualitative Study of Medical Social Workers in South Korea

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2023 Jul 6

PMID 37410785

Authors

Ka Ryeong Bae

Yeojin Ahn

Joung Won Park

Seok-Joo Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) in cancer survivors has been insufficiently addressed despite its imperativeness in cancer journey. Although several studies have investigated healthcare professionals' experience with FCR in cancer survivors, a medical social work perspective has rarely been reflected. This study aimed to explore Korean medical social workers' experience with intervening FCR in cancer survivors.

Methods: Snowball sampling recruited 12 experienced medical social workers intervening with cancer survivors at tertiary or university cancer hospitals in South Korea. Individual and focus-group interviews (FGI) were conducted with the medical social workers. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by using an inductive qualitative content analysis.

Results: Content analysis of the interviews extracted the following major themes regarding FCR in cancer survivors. First, when and how FCR among cancer survivors emerged at the early stage of medical social work interventions was identified. Second, how medical social workers dealt with FCR in cancer survivors was illustrated. Third, the responses of cancer survivors to medical social work interventions for FCR were assessed. Finally, the internal and external issues underlying the medical social work interventions for FCR among cancer survivors were revealed and discussed.

Conclusion: Based on the results, this study suggested the implications on dealing with FCR in cancer survivors in the realm of medial social work profession. Furthermore, it expanded the discussion about FCR in cancer survivors from cancer hospitals to community.

Citing Articles

Enhancing end-of-life care: ethical considerations and the role of social work in geriatric bone marrow biopsy decisions.

Guo S, Yang G Ann Hematol. 2024; 103(11):4821-4822.

PMID: 38662206 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05768-y.

References

Lebel S, Maheu C, Lefebvre M, Secord S, Courbasson C, Singh M . Addressing fear of cancer recurrence among women with cancer: a feasibility and preliminary outcome study. J Cancer Surviv. 2014; 8(3):485-96. DOI: 10.1007/s11764-014-0357-3. View

Lilliehorn S, Isaksson J, Salander P . What does an oncology social worker deal with in patient consultations? - An empirical study. Soc Work Health Care. 2019; 58(5):494-508. DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2019.1587661. View

Zhou X, Gao M, Wang W, Wu X . Patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among cancer patients: A latent profile analysis. J Psychosom Res. 2019; 125:109788. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109788. View

Crist J, Grunfeld E . Factors reported to influence fear of recurrence in cancer patients: a systematic review. Psychooncology. 2012; 22(5):978-86. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3114. View

Butow P, Sharpe L, Thewes B, Turner J, Gilchrist J, Beith J . Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Practical Guide for Clinicians. Oncology (Williston Park). 2018; 32(1):32-8. View

Mutsaers B, Butow P, Dinkel A, Humphris G, Maheu C, Ozakinci G . Identifying the key characteristics of clinical fear of cancer recurrence: An international Delphi study. Psychooncology. 2019; 29(2):430-436. DOI: 10.1002/pon.5283. View

Kumar P, Aggarwal R . An overview of triple-negative breast cancer. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015; 293(2):247-69. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-015-3859-y. View

Taberna M, Gil Moncayo F, Jane-Salas E, Antonio M, Arribas L, Vilajosana E . The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Approach and Quality of Care. Front Oncol. 2020; 10:85. PMC: 7100151. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00085. View

Franssen S, Lagarde S, van Werven J, Smets E, Tran K, Plukker J . Psychological factors and preferences for communicating prognosis in esophageal cancer patients. Psychooncology. 2009; 18(11):1199-207. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1485. View

10.

Lebel S, Ozakinci G, Humphris G, Mutsaers B, Thewes B, Prins J . From normal response to clinical problem: definition and clinical features of fear of cancer recurrence. Support Care Cancer. 2016; 24(8):3265-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-016-3272-5. View

11.

van Beugen S, Ferwerda M, Hoeve D, Rovers M, Spillekom-van Koulil S, van Middendorp H . Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with chronic somatic conditions: a meta-analytic review. J Med Internet Res. 2014; 16(3):e88. PMC: 4004147. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2777. View

12.

Deshields T, Zebrack B, Kennedy V . The state of psychosocial services in cancer care in the United States. Psychooncology. 2012; 22(3):699-703. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3057. View

13.

Gormley M, Knobf M, Vorderstrasse A, Aouizerat B, Hammer M, Fletcher J . Exploring the effects of genomic testing on fear of cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors. Psychooncology. 2021; 30(8):1322-1331. DOI: 10.1002/pon.5679. View

14.

Howard F, Olopade O . Epidemiology of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Review. Cancer J. 2021; 27(1):8-16. DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000500. View

15.

Luigjes-Huizer Y, Tauber N, Humphris G, Kasparian N, Lam W, Lebel S . What is the prevalence of fear of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors and patients? A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Psychooncology. 2022; 31(6):879-892. PMC: 9321869. DOI: 10.1002/pon.5921. View

16.

Elo S, Kyngas H . The qualitative content analysis process. J Adv Nurs. 2008; 62(1):107-15. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x. View

17.

Mutsaers B, Rutkowski N, Jones G, Lamarche J, Lebel S . Assessing and managing patient fear of cancer recurrence. Can Fam Physician. 2020; 66(9):672-673. PMC: 7491663. View

18.

Twomey C, OReilly G, Byrne M . Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression in primary care: a meta-analysis. Fam Pract. 2014; 32(1):3-15. DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmu060. View

19.

Butow P, Shaw J, Vaccaro L, Sharpe L, Dhillon H, Smith B . A research agenda for fear of cancer recurrence: A Delphi study conducted in Australia. Psychooncology. 2019; 28(5):989-996. DOI: 10.1002/pon.5048. View

20.

Eakin E, Reeves M, Goode A, Winkler E, Vardy J, Boyle F . Translating research into practice: outcomes from the Healthy Living after Cancer partnership project. BMC Cancer. 2020; 20(1):963. PMC: 7539431. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07454-4. View