title: Survivors of childhood cancer report high levels of independence five years after diagnosis.
abstract: The aim was to compare self-rated independence in childhood cancer survivors 5 years after diagnosis with corresponding ratings during initial cancer treatment and those in a comparison group. A further aim was to determine whether and how certain clinical and demographic variables affected self-rated independence. Self-rated independence, a dimension included in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Measure (DCGM-37), was assessed in a Swedish cohort of survivors (n = 63, aged 12-22 years) and compared with ratings during initial cancer treatment and those in an age-matched comparison group (n = 257). Potential predictors of self-rated independence were estimated using multiple regression analysis. Survivors rated their independence significantly higher 5 years after diagnosis than during initial cancer treatment and higher than the comparison group. Neither demographic nor clinical variables (age, sex, diagnosis, initial cancer treatment) predicted self-rated independence 5 years post diagnosis. Five years after diagnosis, survivors of childhood cancer appear to have reached a satisfactory level of independence. However, survivors are likely to experience complications over the longer term, and therefore continued follow-up is warranted to follow possible changes in self-reported independence.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jervaeus
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: af Sandeberg
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wettergren
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013548:Sweden; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult