"Is My Brain Ever Going to Work Fully Again?": Challenges and Needs of Cancer Survivors with Persistent Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment.

Haywood, D; Dauer, E; Baughman, FD; Lawrence, BJ; Rossell, SL; Hart, NH; O'Connor, M

"Is My Brain Ever Going to Work Fully Again?": Challenges and Needs of Cancer Survivors with Persistent Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment.

Haywood, D

Dauer, E Baughman, FD Lawrence, BJ Rossell, SL Hart, NH O'Connor, M

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cancers (Basel), 2023, 15, (22), pp. 5331
Issue Date:: 2023-11-08

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Haywood, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9317-4135
dc.contributor.author	Dauer, E
dc.contributor.author	Baughman, FD
dc.contributor.author	Lawrence, BJ
dc.contributor.author	Rossell, SL
dc.contributor.author	Hart, NH
dc.contributor.author	O'Connor, M
dc.date.accessioned	2023-12-20T22:57:36Z
dc.date.available	2023-11-06
dc.date.available	2023-12-20T22:57:36Z
dc.date.issued	2023-11-08
dc.identifier.citation	Cancers (Basel), 2023, 15, (22), pp. 5331
dc.identifier.issn	2072-6694
dc.identifier.issn	2072-6694
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/173887
dc.description.abstract	Many cancer survivors experience cognitive impairments that impact memory, concentration, speed of information processing, and decision making. These impairments, collectively known as cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCIs), are a key domain of unmet needs and can significantly impact a cancer survivor's identity and quality of life. However, there are no purpose-built, multi-domain, needs assessment tools specifically for CRCI. The development of such tools requires an in-depth understanding of cancer survivors' CRCI-specific challenges and associated needs. This study explored the challenges and associated needs of cancer survivors with persistent CRCI. An in-depth qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with (a) cancer survivors with perceived CRCI (n = 32) and (b) oncology health professionals (n = 19) was utilised. A reflexive thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in five overarching themes: (1) executing regular activities, (2) relational difficulties, (3) occupational functioning, (4) psychological distress, and (5) social functioning, as well as an additional informational needs domain. Ultimately, CRCI was found to directly produce a range of challenges that negatively, and persistently, impact cancer survivors' quality of life. Cancer survivors were also found to have a range of needs associated with these challenges. This research should be used to inform future challenges and needs assessment tools as well as treatment and supportive care priority areas directly relating to CRCI.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Cancers (Basel)
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/cancers15225331
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.rights	Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0
dc.subject	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
dc.subject.classification	3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
dc.title	"Is My Brain Ever Going to Work Fully Again?": Challenges and Needs of Cancer Survivors with Persistent Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	15
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
utslib.for	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - HPRC - Human Performance Research Centre
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-12-20T22:57:33Z
pubs.issue	22
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	15
utslib.citation.issue	22

Abstract:

Many cancer survivors experience cognitive impairments that impact memory, concentration, speed of information processing, and decision making. These impairments, collectively known as cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCIs), are a key domain of unmet needs and can significantly impact a cancer survivor's identity and quality of life. However, there are no purpose-built, multi-domain, needs assessment tools specifically for CRCI. The development of such tools requires an in-depth understanding of cancer survivors' CRCI-specific challenges and associated needs. This study explored the challenges and associated needs of cancer survivors with persistent CRCI. An in-depth qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with (a) cancer survivors with perceived CRCI (n = 32) and (b) oncology health professionals (n = 19) was utilised. A reflexive thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in five overarching themes: (1) executing regular activities, (2) relational difficulties, (3) occupational functioning, (4) psychological distress, and (5) social functioning, as well as an additional informational needs domain. Ultimately, CRCI was found to directly produce a range of challenges that negatively, and persistently, impact cancer survivors' quality of life. Cancer survivors were also found to have a range of needs associated with these challenges. This research should be used to inform future challenges and needs assessment tools as well as treatment and supportive care priority areas directly relating to CRCI.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/173887