[Pain experiences and life satisfaction of young adult cancer patients].
BACKGROUND
After having completed medical treatment cancer patients often suffer from pain that can impair the quality of life. While young adolescents and adults (AYA) with cancer have become the focus of research during recent years, literature on the prevalence, quality and relief of pain in AYA patients is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated psychosocial data on pain experienced by AYA patients (e.g. prevalence, type, distress, anxiety and need for support) and the association with the quality of life.


METHODS
Standardized and validated questionnaires were used for assessing pain and quality of life in AYA patients defined as the patient group between 18 and 39 years. Calculated regression models were summarized in a pathway model.


RESULTS
Out of 117 AYA patients (66 % women) 45 (39 %) suffered from pain and of these 73 % felt impaired due to the pain, 58 (50 %) had a fear of pain and 21 (20 %) reported a need for support. The severity of pain had a negative influence on physical functioning (β = -0.335) and health-related satisfaction (β = -0.415). Regarding the quality of life, 105 patients (90 %) were overall satisfied with their life. Dissatisfaction was reported in the areas of occupation (39.34 %), ability to relax (36.31 %), physical performance (34.29 %), income (32.27 %) and partnership/sexuality (29.25 %).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that pain plays a relevant role for AYA patients after the end of medical treatment. A substantial proportion of AYA patients reported the need for support so that the question arises whether medical pain management is sufficient, particularly as pain was associated with impairment and strongly negatively associated with health-related satisfaction.
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland. kristina.geue@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
K
K
Geue
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
R
R
Schmidt
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
A
A
Sender
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
M
M
Friedrich
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D000072716:Cancer Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058748:Pain Perception; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
AYA; Oncology; Pain; Quality of life; Supportive care needs