title: Illness perceptions among cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study is to document in Hong Kong Chinese cancer survivors cross-sectional associations between illness perceptions, physical symptom distress and dispositional optimism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of 1036 (response rate, 86.1%, mean age 55.18 years, 60% female) survivors of different cancers recruited within 6 months of completion of adjuvant therapy from Hong Kong public hospitals completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), Chinese version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short-Form (MSAS-SF), and the revised Chinese version of Life Orientation Test (C-LOT-R), respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analyses examined adjusted associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IPQ seriousness, symptom identity, illness concern, and emotional impact scores varied by cancer type (p < 0.01). Stress-related, lifestyle, environment, psychological/personality, and health-related factors were most frequently attributed causes of cancer. After adjustment for sample differences, physical symptom distress was significantly associated with all illness perception dimensions (p < 0.01), excepting control beliefs. Optimism was positively correlated with perceived personal and treatment control (p < 0.01) and illness understanding (p < 0.01), but negatively correlated with other IPQ dimensions (all p < 0.01). IPQ domain differences by cancer type were eliminated by adjustment for sample characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Illness perceptions did not differ by cancer type. Greater physical symptom distress and lower levels of optimism were associated with more negative illness perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding how cancer survivors make sense of cancer can clarify an important aspect of adaptation. This in turn can inform interventions to facilitate adjustment. Knowledge contributions include evidence of physical symptom distress correlating with most dimensions of illness perception. Optimism was also associated with cancer survivors' illness perceptions.
authors: Centre for Psycho-Oncology Research and Training, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 5/F, WMW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors: Na
authors: N
authors: Zhang
authors: Centre for Psycho-Oncology Research and Training, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 5/F, WMW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Fielding
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
authors: Inda
authors: I
authors: Soong
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors: Karen K K
authors: KK
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors: Janice
authors: J
authors: Tsang
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.
authors: Conrad
authors: C
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Ng
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
authors: Wing Kin
authors: WK
authors: Sze
authors: Centre for Psycho-Oncology Research and Training, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 5/F, WMW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Tin
authors: Centre for Psycho-Oncology Research and Training, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, 5/F, WMW Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. wwtlam@hku.hk.
authors: Wendy Wing Tak
authors: WW
authors: Lam
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer survivors; Chinese; Illness perceptions; Optimism; Symptom distress