Illness perceptions and changes in lifestyle following a gynecological cancer diagnosis: A longitudinal analysis

• Published in: Gynecologic oncology Vol. 145; no. 2; pp. 310 - 318
• Main Authors: van Broekhoven, Marlou E.C.L., de Rooij, Belle H., Pijnenborg, Johanna M.A., Vos, M. Caroline, Boll, Dorry, Kruitwagen, Roy F.P.M., van de Poll-Franse, Lonneke V., Ezendam, Nicole P.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Aged; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Body Mass Index; Endometrial Neoplasms - diagnosis; Endometrial Neoplasms - psychology; Endometrial Neoplasms - therapy; Female; Gynecological cancer patients; Healthy Lifestyle; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Illness perceptions; Latent class growth curve analysis; Life Style; Lifestyle; Longitudinal Studies; Longitudinal study; Middle Aged; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis; Ovarian Neoplasms - psychology; Ovarian Neoplasms - therapy; Patient Care Planning; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Smoking - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivorship; Lifestyle; Gynecological cancer patients; Latent class growth curve analysis; Survivorship; Longitudinal study; Illness perceptions
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.02.037
• ISSN: 0090-8258; 1095-6859

This study explores patterns of lifestyle change and whether more threatening illness perceptions are associated with lifestyle changes post-treatment for smoking, alcohol consumption and Body Mass Index (BMI) among gynecological cancer patients. In total, 395 cancer patients (N=221 endometrial; N=174 ovarian) were included in this secondary analysis of longitudinal data. Lifestyle outcomes were assessed through self-reported questionnaires after initial treatment and 6, 12, and 18months of follow-up. Illness perceptions were assessed with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Latent class growth curve analyses were conducted to identify patterns of lifestyle change and linear mixed models using between-subject and within-subject effects to explore the association between BIPQ items and alcohol consumption (glasses/week) and BMI (kg/m2). After initial treatment, 15% (N=57) of the patients smoked, 53% (N=203) drank alcohol, and 60% (N=236) were overweight or obese. Overall, smokers made no considerable changes, but one subgroup of low level smokers reported positive decline. A slight decrease was observed for alcohol consumption among low and moderate level alcohol drinker subgroups, whereas BMI remained stable among endometrial cancer patients and increased for ovarian cancer patients. Moreover, patients with lower trust in their treatment to cure the disease drank more alcohol (β=0.32 glasses/week [95% CI 0.09; 0.56]). Change in lifestyle after a gynecological cancer treatment is not self-evident. Moreover, more threatening illness perceptions were not related to a healthier lifestyle. This study underlines the need for lifestyle-promoting activities to facilitate lifestyle improvement among gynecological cancer patients. •Most endometrial and ovarian cancer patients do not change their smoking, alcohol consumption or BMI following diagnosis.•However, some subgroups decreased smoking and alcohol intake.•More threatening illness perceptions were not associated with positive lifestyle changes.