Cancer worry is associated with increased use of supportive health care-results from the multinational InCHARGE study

To assess use of health care following a diagnosis of endometrial, cervical, and ovarian cancer in the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark. Furthermore, to analyze the association between cancer worry and use of supportive care.

An international multicenter cross-sectional questionnaire study was undertaken among female cancer survivors with endometrial, cervical, or ovarian cancer 1-7 years post diagnosis. We investigated different aspects of cancer survivorship and follow-up care. Health care use included information on the use of supportive health care, general practitioner (GP), and follow-up visits to the department of gynecology. Cancer worry was assessed with the Impact of Cancer (IoCv2) questionnaire.

A total of 1433 women completed the questionnaire. Health care use decreased from time of diagnosis and was higher among cervical and ovarian cancer survivors than endometrial cancer survivors. Twenty-five percent of the women with ovarian cancer reported severe cancer worry, in contrast to 10 and 15% of women diagnosed with endometrial and cervical cancer, respectively. Women with severe worry had significantly higher use of supportive care activities. In a multivariable regression analysis, cancer worry remained a significant correlate for use of supportive health care services irrespective of disease severity or prognosis. The strongest association was found for use of a psychologist (OR 2.1 [1.71-2.58]).

Cancer worry is associated with increased use of supportive care.

Targeted, timely, and accessible psychological support aimed at severe cancer worry may improve survivorship care and ensure optimal referral of patients in need of additional care.