Joint developmental trajectories of fear of recurrence and coping behaviors among patients with lung cancer: A parallel process latent class growth analysis

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the joint developmental trajectories of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and coping behaviors in patients with lung cancer and analyze the influences of family resilience and quality of life (QOL) on each latent trajectory.

Methods

Longitudinal observation data from 310 patients with lung cancer were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postdiagnosis (T₁-T₄). The participants completed a comprehensive set of questionnaires. Parallel-process latent class growth analysis was used to delineate the joint developmental trajectories.

Results

Three types of joint developmental trajectories were identified: the high FCR-poor coping-sudden change group (28.4%, 88/310), the moderate FCR-medium coping-stable change group (31.9%, 99/310), and the low FCR-good coping-stable change group (39.7%, 123/310). Gender, residential location, educational level, and medical insurance were predictors of trajectory class membership. There were significant differences in family resilience and QOL across the three classes.

Conclusions

Targeted interventions should be developed at specific time points to reduce FCR levels and enhance coping behaviors among patients with lung cancer. The importance of addressing and managing the fear of cancer recurrence and coping behaviors among patients with lung cancer to enhance their family resilience and QOL is discussed. Healthcare providers should be particularly attentive to patients with lung cancer who are males, those living in rural areas, those with less than a bachelor's degree, and those without medical insurance.