The Positive Effects of Cancer Survivor Support Service on Distress in South Korea: A Nationwide Prospective Study

Hyun Jeong Lee; Young Ae Kim; Seong Yeob Ryu; Mison Chun; Chang-Yeol Yim; Hee-Taik Kang; Jung Hun Kang; Jung-Sik Huh; Jong-Heun Kim; Kyu-Hyoung Lim; So-Youn Jung; Hyoung-Cheol Kwon; Eurah Goh; Yeon-Seung Lee; Hee Young Ju; E Hwa Yun; Yoon Jung Chang

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.769221

The Positive Effects of Cancer Survivor Support Service on Distress in South Korea: A Nationwide Prospective Study

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Feb 14:9:769221. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.769221. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hyun Jeong Lee^{1

2

3

4}, Young Ae Kim^{1

2}, Seong Yeob Ryu⁵, Mison Chun⁶, Chang-Yeol Yim^{7

8}, Hee-Taik Kang^{9

10}, Jung Hun Kang^{11

12}, Jung-Sik Huh¹³, Jong-Heun Kim³, Kyu-Hyoung Lim¹⁴, So-Youn Jung¹⁵, Hyoung-Cheol Kwon^{16

17

18}, Eurah Goh¹⁹, Yeon-Seung Lee¹, Hee Young Ju^{20

21}, E Hwa Yun^{1

2

22}, Yoon Jung Chang^{1

2

23

24

25}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cancer Control and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
² National Cancer Survivorship Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
⁶ Department of Radiation Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
⁷ Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea.
⁸ Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
⁹ Department of Family Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, South Korea.
¹⁰ Department of Family Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea.
¹¹ Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Gyeong-Sang National University, Jinju, South Korea.
¹² Department of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea.
¹³ Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
¹⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
¹⁵ Breast Cancer Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
¹⁶ Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
¹⁷ Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
¹⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea.
¹⁹ Department of Family Medicine, Postgraduate College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
²⁰ Cancer Survivorship Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
²¹ Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
²² Division of Cancer Registration and Surveillance, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
²³ Center for Cancer Prevention and Detection, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
²⁴ National Hospice Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
²⁵ Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, National Cancer Center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, Goyang, South Korea.

Abstract

Background and aim: Cancer survivors are gradually increasing, however, they suffer from various difficulties. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of cancer survivors and the effects of the services of the Korean Cancer Survivorship Center Pilot Project launched by the South Korean government on distress.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was performed on cancer survivors who completed primary treatment. Cancer survivors' distress and symptoms such as fatigue, pain, depressive mood, anxiety, and insomnia were evaluated by well-trained nurses. Regarding their needs, medical and psychosocial support services were provided.

Results: This study included 1,921 cancer survivors, with a mean age of 57.3 years (68.7% females). Breast cancer was most common, followed by stomach and colorectal cancer. Psychosocial and medical support decreased the percentage of the high-distress group from 50.9 to 30.5% and decreased the percentage of cancer survivors with high scores in fatigue, pain, anxiety, depressive mood, and insomnia. The independent predictors of a low distress level after the use of the services were older age, the relief of fatigue, pain, and insomnia.

Conclusion: This study showed that psychosocial and medical support is associated with the lower distress and physical and mental symptoms of cancer survivors. Psychosocial and medical support could contribute to distress relief in cancer survivors. Further management strategies for fatigue, pain and insomnia are required.

Keywords: cancer survivor; cancer survivorship management; distress; government-led; support service.