AUTHOR=Luo Xian , Li Wengao , Yang Yuan , Humphris Gerald , Zeng Lijuan , Zhang Zijun , Garg Samradhvi , Zhang Bin , Sun Hengwen 

TITLE=High Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Chinese Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01287

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01287

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is common among cancer patients and of high clinical relevance. This study explores the prevalence and correlates of FCR in Chinese newly-diagnosed cancer population. Methods: This is a multicentre, cross-sectional study that includes 996 patients with mixed cancer diagnosis. All recently diagnosed patients completed a questionnaire consisting of the following: Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Univariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression analyses, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed to examine the association between tested variables and FCR. Results: Of the 996 patients, 643 (64.6%) reported high FCR (scored ≥ 34 in the FoP-Q-SF). Chemotherapy (OR=1.941), Childhood severe illness experience (OR=2.802), depressive (OR=1.153) and anxiety (OR=1.249) symptoms were positively associated with high FCR, while higher monthly income (OR=0.592) was negatively associated with high FCR. SEM indicated that emotional disturbances (anxiety and depression) directly influenced FCR, while emotional disturbances partly mediated the association between personal monthly income and FCR. Conclusion: High FCR is a frequently reported problem among newly-diagnosed cancer patients. Various factors increased the likelihood of the development of FCR. Flexible psychological interventions are needed for patients with high FCR.