A predictive model of fear of cancer recurrence for patients undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

Purpose A number of cancer patients experience fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), which affects their psychological adjustment. This study tested the hypothesized model of FCR to predict psychological adjustment in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods A total of 203 patients, who had been diagnosed with either breast cancer or colorectal cancer and were undergoing chemotherapy, were recruited from two university hospitals in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected using validated questionnaires and were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 25.0 program for structural equation modeling procedures. Results The fit index of the hypothesized model was appropriate. Symptom distress, contextual factors, FCR, and illness representations had statistically significant direct, indirect, and total effects on psychological adjustment. These variables explained 76% of the total variance of the psychological adjustment in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Fear of cancer recurrence was a mediating factor for the effects of symptom distress, contextual factors, and illness representation on psychological adjustment. Conclusions Based on these results, interventions aimed at reducing symptom distress and FCR, and improving social support, optimism, and illness representations, may be useful for the successful psychological adjustment of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.