Sapp Amy L, Trentham-Dietz Amy, Newcomb Polly A, Hampton John M, Moinpour Carol M, Remington Patrick L
University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA.
Cancer. 2003 Oct 15;98(8):1749-58. doi: 10.1002/cncr.11717.
The population of long-term colorectal cancer survivors in the United States continues to increase, but little is known about how they fare-physically, mentally, or socially-in the years after diagnosis. The current study examines female long-term colorectal cancer survivors' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in relation to social networks.
A population-based sample of female colorectal cancer survivors (n = 726) residing in Wisconsin was recontacted approximately 9 years after the initial diagnosis. Of 443 women who were alive in 1999, 307 women completed a follow-up questionnaire. Analysis was conducted on 259 participants who completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Status Survey and a modified version of Berkman and Syme's Social Network Index. Using multivariate analyses, HRQoL summary scores were tested for associations with individual and composite measures of social networks, including marital/partner status; number of children, relatives, and friends; and the frequency of religious and community participation.
After adjusting for age, extent of disease at diagnosis, number of comorbidities, body mass, and education, HRQoL was similar to norms published for the general population. Individual social network measures (including the number of relatives and friends) and composite network measures (including network size, the number of ties seen at least once per month, and overall social connectedness) were associated positively with mental health.
Social networks may have an important relation with HRQoL-particularly mental health-among female long-term colorectal cancer survivors. The results of this study should be of interest to those seeking to understand or improve HRQoL among this growing population.
美国长期结直肠癌幸存者的数量持续增加，但对于他们在确诊后的数年里身体、心理或社会方面的状况知之甚少。本研究调查了女性长期结直肠癌幸存者与社交网络相关的健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）。
对居住在威斯康星州的女性结直肠癌幸存者进行基于人群的抽样（n = 726），在初次诊断后约9年再次联系她们。在1999年存活的443名女性中，有307名女性完成了一份随访问卷。对259名完成医学结局研究简短健康状况调查问卷36项和伯克曼与赛姆社交网络指数修改版的参与者进行了分析。使用多变量分析，对HRQoL汇总分数与社交网络的个体及综合指标进行关联测试，这些指标包括婚姻/伴侣状况；子女、亲属和朋友的数量；宗教和社区参与的频率。
在对年龄、诊断时的疾病范围、合并症数量、体重和教育程度进行调整后，HRQoL与针对普通人群公布的标准相似。个体社交网络指标（包括亲属和朋友的数量）和综合网络指标（包括网络规模月、每月至少见面一次的联系数量以及总体社会联系）与心理健康呈正相关。
社交网络可能与女性长期结直肠癌幸存者的HRQoL尤其是心理健康有着重要关系。本研究结果对于那些试图了解或改善这一不断增长人群的HRQoL的人来说应该是有意义的。
