Living with Cancer: Evaluation and refinement of a model

描述：(申请人提供)尽管有大量文献研究了癌症诊断和治疗的应对和适应，但很少有研究集中于治疗后早期阶段(治疗后12个月内的最后一次治疗剂量)、年轻人(小于或等于50岁)、性别差异或家庭视角。这项研究将调查患有结直肠癌或淋巴瘤的年轻男性和女性[年龄21-50岁]及其家人在治疗后的头12个月内如何应对和适应他们的疾病。将探讨以下具体目标：(1)开发一个理论模型，描述完成淋巴瘤或结直肠癌治疗的年轻成年人(21-50岁)“治疗后与癌症共存”的过程；(2)利用患者的定性数据，确定在应对和适应方面具有不同亚群特征的主题。将在分析中纳入定量数据，以进一步阐明这些应对和适应模式的差异；(3)找出在淋巴瘤和结直肠癌治疗结束后的头12个月中年轻男性和女性如何应对和适应的性别差异；(4)探讨患者和家庭成员对二元体的描述之间的和谐/不和谐及其对淋巴瘤或结直肠癌患者个人心理健康和整体健康的影响；(5)将本研究开发的理论模型与现有的“慢性病生活模式”进行比较和对比。患者及其家属将在治疗最后一天、治疗后2周和4周以及治疗后3个月和12个月的5个时间点分别接受采访并填写一份问卷。逐字逐句的成绩单将使用内容分析和持续比较进行分析。在家庭背景下确定与年龄和性别相关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人恢复生产性生活并提高生活质量。

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.