Living with Cancer: Evaluation and refinement of a model

描述：（由申请人提供）尽管有大量文献研究癌症诊断和治疗的应对和适应，但很少有研究关注治疗后早期阶段（治疗后最后一次治疗剂量至12个月）、年轻人（小于或等于50岁）、性别差异或家庭观点。本研究将调查患有结直肠癌或淋巴瘤的年轻男性和女性（21-50岁）及其家人在治疗后的前12个月如何应对和适应疾病。以下具体目标将解决：(1)建立一个理论模型，描述年轻（21-50岁）成年人完成淋巴瘤或结直肠癌治疗后“与癌症共存”的过程；(2)利用患者的定性数据，确定不同亚群在应对和适应方面的特征。定量数据将纳入分析，以进一步阐明应对和调整模式的这些差异；(3)确定定性主题，描述年轻男性和女性在淋巴瘤和结直肠癌治疗结束后的前12个月如何应对和调整的性别差异；(4)探讨患者与家庭成员描述的一致性/不一致性及其对淋巴瘤或结直肠癌患者心理健康和整体健康的影响；(5)将本研究建立的理论模型与现有的“慢性疾病生活模型”进行比较和对比。在治疗最后一天、治疗后2周和4周、治疗后3个月和12个月这5个时间点对患者和家属进行单独访谈并完成问卷包。逐字抄本分析将使用内容分析和不断比较。在家庭范围内确定与年龄有关和特定性别的主题对于制定干预战略至关重要，这些战略将促进这些年轻的成年癌症幸存者及其家庭恢复生产性生活并改善其生活质量。

DESCRIPTION: (provided by applicant) Despite a large body of literature examining coping and adjustment to cancer diagnosis and treatment, very few studies have focused on the early post-treatment phase (last treatment dose through 12 months post-treatment), younger adults ( less than or equal too age 50), gender differences, or family perspectives. This study will examine how younger men and women [ages 21-50] with colorectal cancer or lymphoma and their families, cope and adjust to their disease during the first 12 months of post-treatment. The following specific aims will be addressed: (1) Develop a theoretical model describing the process of "living with cancer after treatment" in younger (21-50 years) adults completing treatment for lymphoma or colorectal cancer; (2) Utilizing qualitative data from patients, identify themes that characterize different subgroups in terms of coping and adjustment. Quantitative data will be integrated into the analyses to further illuminate these variations in patterns of coping and adjustment; (3) Identify qualitative themes that characterize gender differences in how younger men and women cope and adjust during the first 12 month following the end of treatment for lymphoma and colorectal cancer; (4) Explore the consonance/dissonance between the descriptions offered by the patient and family member within a dyad and its impact on the psychological well-being and overall health of the individual with lymphoma or colorectal cancer; (5) Compare and contrast the theoretical model developed in this study with the existing "Living with Chronic Illness Model". Patients and family members will be interviewed individually and complete a questionnaire packet at 5 time points: last day of treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post-treatment, and 3 and 12 months post-treatment. Verbatim transcripts will be analyzed using content analysis and constant comparison. Identification of age-related and gender-specific themes within the context of the family are vital to the development of intervention strategies that will enhance the return to a productive existence and improve quality of life for these younger adult cancer survivors and their families.