Factors Influencing Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Lung Cancer Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 40; no. 12; pp. 7141 - 7145
• Main Authors: Ashi, Nanami, Kataoka, Yuki, Takemura, Tomoyasu, Shirakawa, Chigusa, Okazaki, Koya, Sakurai, Azusa, Imakita, Takuma, Ikegaki, Shunkichi, Matsumoto, Hirotaka, Saito, Emiko, Takata, Hirohito, Kaku, Sawako, Wada, Nobuko, Shinomiya, Mariko, Otoshi, Takehiro, Shimada, Masatoshi, Nikaido, Junichi, Iki, Reika, Hirano, Katsuya, Hirai, Tomoyuki, Endo, Kazuo, Hirabayashi, Masataka, Naganuma, Toru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia; Dementia disorders; Female; Humans; Loneliness; Loneliness - psychology; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Social interactions; Social isolation; Social Isolation - psychology; Social networks; Social organization; social isolation; dementia; social determinants of health; loneliness; Lung cancer
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530
• DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.14744

Previous reviews of Social determinants of health in lung cancer patients have not examined essential factors such as social isolation and loneliness. This study aimed to explore the factors affecting social isolation and loneliness among lung cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Social isolation, loneliness, and the presence of dementia were measured using Japanese adaptations of the Lubben Social Network Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Life Function Evaluation for Care Provision, respectively. From March 2019 to March 2020, 264 patients were included. Social isolation was significantly higher for patients receiving welfare (adjusted OR=5.28, 95% CI=2.24-12.4). Loneliness was significantly higher for patients receiving welfare (beta coefficient=0.52, 95% Cl=0.13-0.90) with symptoms of dementia (beta coefficient=0.28, 95% Cl=0.03-0.54). Results showed that receiving welfare was associated with experiencing social isolation. Receiving welfare and symptoms of dementia were associated with experiencing loneliness.