Genentech, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Cancer Nurs. 2013 Mar-Apr;36(2):E1-7. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e31824242dd.
Hematologic malignancies occur frequently in young adults. With treatment, many patients are able to survive. Issues of dependency and peer group membership present unique challenges to this subset of cancer survivors. Interest in cancer survivorship has grown, but little is known about the quality of life (QOL) of young adult survivors.
The objectives of this study were to examine QOL among young adult survivors in relation to middle-aged and older adults, identify common areas of concern, and explore the association of individual characteristics with levels of QOL.
This was a descriptive correlational study using a convenience sample of 48 patients, aged 18 to 35 years at time of diagnosis. Data collection consisted of a 1-time telephone interview utilizing the City of Hope Quality of Life of Cancer Survivors questionnaire and 3 open-ended questions.
No significant correlations were found between QOL dimensions and current age, age at treatment completion, or time since treatment completion. Social well-being was related to age and spiritual well-being to race. A substantial proportion of the sample identified the need for additional education and peer group support.
Results support the importance of developing survivorship programs tailored to the needs of the young adult patient. This may include ongoing opportunities to meet with other survivors and referrals to appropriate support resources. Data suggest that the need for survivorship services exists beyond the first few years after treatment completion.
Young adult patients who may be at higher risk for decreased QOL can be targeted for earlier intervention.
血液系统恶性肿瘤在年轻人中较为常见。经过治疗，许多患者能够存活下来。对于这部分癌症幸存者而言，依赖性和同龄群体成员身份等问题带来了独特的挑战。人们对癌症生存者的关注度日益增加，但对于年轻成年癌症幸存者的生活质量（QOL）却知之甚少。
本研究旨在探讨年轻成年癌症幸存者的 QOL，并与中年和老年癌症幸存者进行比较，确定常见的关注领域，并探讨个体特征与 QOL 水平的关系。
这是一项描述性相关性研究，采用方便抽样法选取了 48 名年龄在 18 至 35 岁的患者。数据收集包括一次性电话访谈，使用希望之城癌症幸存者生活质量问卷和 3 个开放式问题。
QOL 维度与当前年龄、治疗完成时的年龄以及治疗完成后时间均无显著相关性。社会福祉与年龄有关，而精神福祉与种族有关。相当一部分样本表示需要额外的教育和同龄群体支持。
结果支持为年轻成年患者量身定制生存者计划的重要性。这可能包括与其他幸存者定期会面的机会，并转介给适当的支持资源。数据表明，生存者服务的需求不仅存在于治疗完成后的头几年。
生活质量可能较低的年轻成年患者可以成为早期干预的目标。
