Impact of Income on Physical Concerns, Help Seeking, and Unmet Needs of Adult Cancer Survivors
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose:
Cancer treatment can have consequences for individuals which may have profound impact on daily living. Accessing assistance can be problematic. This study explores associations between income and concerns, help-seeking, and unmet needs related to physical changes following cancer treatment.
Method:
A national survey was conducted with cancer survivors about experiences with follow-up care one to three years after treatment. We report a trend analysis describing associations between income and cancer survivors’ concerns, help-seeking, and unmet needs related to physical changes after treatment.
Results:
In total 5,283 cancer survivors between 18 and 64 years responded, of which 4,264 (80.7%) indicated annual household income. The majority of respondents were survivors of breast (34.4%), colorectal (15.0%), and prostate (14.0%) cancers. Over 90% wrote about experiencing physical changes following cancer treatment. Survivors with low annual household incomes of less than $25,000 (CAN) reported the highest levels of concern about multiple physical changes and were more likely to seek help to address them.
Conclusions:
Cancer survivors can experience various physical challenges and unmet needs following cancer treatment and difficulty obtaining relevant help across all income levels. Those with low income are more severely affected. Financial assessment and tailored follow-up are recommended.
Résumé
Objectif :
le traitement du cancer peut avoir de profondes conséquences sur la vie quotidienne. Il peut être difficile d’accéder à de l’aide. La présente étude explore les associations entre le revenu et les inquiétudes, la demande d’aide et les besoins non respectés liés aux changements physiques après le traitement du cancer.
Méthodologie :
: les chercheurs ont mené une enquête nationale auprès des survivants du cancer sur leurs expériences des soins de suivi de un à trois ans après le traitement. Ils rendent compte d’une analyse des tendances qui décrit les associations entre le revenu et les préoccupations des survivants du cancer, la demande d’aide et les besoins non respectés liés aux changements physiques après le traitement.
Résultats :
au total, 5 283 survivants du cancer de 18 à 64 ans ont répondu, et 4 264 (80,7 %) ont précisé leur revenu familial annuel. La majorité des répondants étaient des survivants du cancer du sein (34,4 %), du cancer colorectal (15,0 %) ou du cancer de la prostate (14,0 %). Plus de 90 % ont écrit avoir vécu des changements physiques après le traitement du cancer. Les survivants dont le revenu familial annuel était inférieur à 25 000 $ CA étaient les plus inquiets des multiples changements physiques et les plus susceptibles de demander à l’aide pour les régler.
Conclusions :
les survivants du cancer peuvent vivre divers changements physiques et éprouver des besoins non respectés après le traitement d’un cancer, et éprouver de la difficulté à obtenir l’aide pertinente dans toutes les catégories de revenu. Ceux qui ont un faible revenu sont plus touchés. Il est recommandé de procéder à une évaluation financière et à un suivi adapté.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Physiotherapy Canada
Volume 75 • Number 4 • November 2023
Pages: 339 - 347
Copyright
© Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2023. For their own personal use, users may read, download, print, search, or link to the full text. Manuscripts published in Physiotherapy Canada are copyrighted to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Requests for permission to reproduce this article should be made to the University of Toronto Press using the Permission Request Form: https://www.utpjournals.press/about/permissions or by email: [email protected].
History
Received: 14 August 2021
Revision received: 29 October 2021
Accepted: 22 December 2021
Published ahead of print: 3 June 2022
Published online: 27 November 2023
Published in print: November 2023
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Physiotherapy Canada 2023 75:4, 339-347
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