Davut Dayan1, Elena Leinert2, Susanne Singer3, Wolfgang Janni2, Thorsten Kühn4, Felix Flock5, Ricardo Felberbaum6, Saskia-Laureen Herbert7, Achim Wöckel7, Lukas Schwentner2. 1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstr. 43, 89075, Ulm, Germany. Davut.dayan@uniklinik-ulm.de. 2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstr. 43, 89075, Ulm, Germany. 3. Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany. 5. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Memmingen, Memmingen, Germany. 6. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Kempten, Kempten, Germany. 7. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between social service counseling (SSC) and financial and role functioning problems in primary breast cancer (BC) patients over a 5-year observation period. METHODS: In the multicenter prospective study, patients were approached before surgery (t1), before initiation of adjuvant treatment (t2), after therapy completion (t3), and 5 years after surgery (t4). We examined the proportion of BC survivors who had financial and role functioning problems and the proportion who were employed at t4. We examined how frequently patients were informed about, offered, or used SSC, and we used multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between this and financial and role functioning problem prevalence. RESULTS: Of the 456 BC survivors, 33% had financial problems and 22% reported role functioning problems at t4. There was no evidence that women with increased financial problems were informed about SSC more often than those without (OR 1.1, p = 0.84) or that they used SSC more often (OR 1.3, p = 0.25). However, women with role functioning problems were informed about SSC significantly more often (OR 1.7, p = 0.02) and attended counseling significantly more often (OR 1.6, p = 0.03). Among participants aged < 65 years at t4 (n = 255), 70% were employed. Patients who had received SSC were more likely to be employed at t4 than patients who did not (OR 1.9, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: These findings underline the importance of SSC for BC patients with role functioning issues. They indicate that individuals who use SSC are more likely to be employed later on than individuals who do not.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between social service counseling (SSC) and financial and role functioning problems in primary breast cancer (BC) patients over a 5-year observation period. METHODS: In the multicenter prospective study, patients were approached before surgery (t1), before initiation of adjuvant treatment (t2), after therapy completion (t3), and 5 years after surgery (t4). We examined the proportion of BC survivors who had financial and role functioning problems and the proportion who were employed at t4. We examined how frequently patients were informed about, offered, or used SSC, and we used multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the relationship between this and financial and role functioning problem prevalence. RESULTS: Of the 456 BC survivors, 33% had financial problems and 22% reported role functioning problems at t4. There was no evidence that women with increased financial problems were informed about SSC more often than those without (OR 1.1, p = 0.84) or that they used SSC more often (OR 1.3, p = 0.25). However, women with role functioning problems were informed about SSC significantly more often (OR 1.7, p = 0.02) and attended counseling significantly more often (OR 1.6, p = 0.03). Among participants aged < 65 years at t4 (n = 255), 70% were employed. Patients who had received SSC were more likely to be employed at t4 than patients who did not (OR 1.9, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: These findings underline the importance of SSC for BC patients with role functioning issues. They indicate that individuals who use SSC are more likely to be employed later on than individuals who do not.