title: Factors influencing life satisfaction in acute myeloid leukemia survivors following allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is the preferred option of postremission therapy for high-risk patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Therefore, monitoring life satisfaction (LS) of long-term survivors following alloSCT is becoming increasingly important for oncologists. The aim of the study was to evaluate individual survivor priority of various general and health-related domains of life and their satisfaction with these domains. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of general and health-related LS on resilience, anxiety, depression and quality of life in AML survivors following alloSCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one AML survivors (median age at time of assessment = 49.0 years) who had undergone alloSCT (median time since transplantation = 3.1 years) were enrolled in the study. Psychosocial parameters were assessed using the following instruments: FLZ(M) (Questions on Life Satisfaction), EORTC QLQ-C30, HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and the RS-25 (Resilience Scale-25 items). Correlation analyses were computed to reveal the associations between the different questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independence from help or care, well-regulated living conditions and financial security contributed positively to LS, whereas being off work due to health-reasons and dissatisfaction with physical aspects were negatively associated to the subjective feelings of overall satisfaction. Moreover, a high quality of life was strongly positively correlated with LS (Spearman's rho general LS: 0.643 and health-related LS: 0.726, both p < 0.001). A high degree of resilience was also strongly positively correlated with better LS (general LS: 0.700, health-related LS: 0.675, both p < 0.001). Symptoms of anxiety and depression were associated with an impaired general LS (anxiety: -0.674, depression: -0.698, both p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that LS should be considered an important key contributor to the survivors' well-being following alloSCT. Thus, identifying protective psychological and physical factors that relieve stressors is of high importance in order to support long-term AML survivors with their special needs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149, Muenster, Germany. Susanne.Amler@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149, Muenster, Germany. sauerla@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sauerland
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Muenster, Medicine A - Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology and Pneumology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149, Muenster, Germany. ChristianDeiters@web.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deiters
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Muenster, Medicine A - Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology and Pneumology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149, Muenster, Germany. buechnr@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Büchner
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Muenster, Medicine A - Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology and Pneumology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149, Muenster, Germany. Andrea.Schumacher@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schumacher
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*