Fear of disease progression and relevant correlates in acute leukemia patients prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fear of disease progression and relevant correlates in acute leukemia patients prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

AU - Thiele, Sandra

AU - Goebel, Simone

AU - Kröger, Nicolaus

AU - Pedersen, Anya

N1 - © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PY - 2020/8

Y1 - 2020/8

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and despite the high objective risks associated with HSCT, fear of progression (FoP) has only sparsely been studied in patients with acute leukemia until now. The aim of this study was the assessment of the prevalence of FoP, and any relevant correlates and typical concerns.METHODS: We included 59 adult patients with acute leukemia who were tested prior to their first HSCT during an in-patient stay. Patients completed self-report measures assessing FoP (Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, FoP-Q-SF) and relevant correlates of FoP (eg, patients' physical state, depression, psychosocial distress, or social support).RESULTS: About one third of the patients (35.6%; n = 21) had high FoP. Higher FoP was associated with previous cancer diagnosis, as well as depression, anxiety, reduced physical functioning, lower mental health-related quality of life, and lower positive social support. The greatest fears reported by these patients reflected common fears of cancer patients (eg, fear about leaving their families behind), but also specific fears related to the current situation (eg, fear of severe medical treatments during the course of the illness).CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study providing an extensive analysis of FoP in leukemia patients prior to the extreme situation of HSCT. FoP is frequent and of major clinical importance for these patients. Hence, we recommend that patients undergo routine screening for FoP, to identify highly distressed patients at an early stage, and to offer targeted support.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and despite the high objective risks associated with HSCT, fear of progression (FoP) has only sparsely been studied in patients with acute leukemia until now. The aim of this study was the assessment of the prevalence of FoP, and any relevant correlates and typical concerns.METHODS: We included 59 adult patients with acute leukemia who were tested prior to their first HSCT during an in-patient stay. Patients completed self-report measures assessing FoP (Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, FoP-Q-SF) and relevant correlates of FoP (eg, patients' physical state, depression, psychosocial distress, or social support).RESULTS: About one third of the patients (35.6%; n = 21) had high FoP. Higher FoP was associated with previous cancer diagnosis, as well as depression, anxiety, reduced physical functioning, lower mental health-related quality of life, and lower positive social support. The greatest fears reported by these patients reflected common fears of cancer patients (eg, fear about leaving their families behind), but also specific fears related to the current situation (eg, fear of severe medical treatments during the course of the illness).CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study providing an extensive analysis of FoP in leukemia patients prior to the extreme situation of HSCT. FoP is frequent and of major clinical importance for these patients. Hence, we recommend that patients undergo routine screening for FoP, to identify highly distressed patients at an early stage, and to offer targeted support.

KW - Adult

KW - Anxiety/psychology

KW - Disease Progression

KW - Fear/psychology

KW - Female

KW - Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/psychology

KW - Humans

KW - Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/psychology

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/psychology

KW - Prevalence

KW - Quality of Life/psychology

KW - Social Support

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

U2 - 10.1002/pon.5397

DO - 10.1002/pon.5397

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 32323380

VL - 29

SP - 1248

EP - 1254

JO - PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY

JF - PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY

SN - 1057-9249

IS - 8

ER -