Yang Gao, Xin Meng, Huiru Xia, Dahong Xu, Deming Li, Xiuhong Lu, Shuwen Li
Illness cognition among esophageal cancer patients in the early postoperative period following MIE is heterogeneous and differentially associated with symptom experiences. Notably, one profile was characterized by high acceptance and perceived benefits together with high helplessness, indicating that these cognitive responses may coexist. Considering illness cognition profiles together with concurrent symptom burden may provide a basis for more tailored supportive care during the early postoperative period.
PURPOSE: To identify latent profiles of illness cognition among esophageal cancer patients during the early postoperative period following minimally invasive esophagectomy, and to examine differences in postoperative symptom experiences across these profiles.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 405 patients were recruited from the thoracic surgery departments of three hospitals in Anhui Province. A general information questionnaire, the Illness Cognition Questionnaire, and the Convalescent Symptom Assessment Scale for Esophagectomy Patients were used. Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct profiles and to compare symptoms across profiles.
RESULTS: Four distinct illness cognition profiles were identified: helplessness-dominant group (13.1%), high helplessness-adaptive cognition group (43.7%), moderate cognition group (24.2%) and adaptive cognition-dominant group (19.0%). The influencing factors of four latent profiles of illness cognition included residential status, education status, work status, tumor location, and anastomotic site. The adaptive cognition-dominant group reported lower late recovery symptom scores than the high helplessness-adaptive cognition group and moderate cognition group, and lower psychosocial symptom scores than all other groups. However, no significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of early recovery symptoms and persistent present symptoms.
CONCLUSION: Illness cognition among esophageal cancer patients in the early postoperative period following MIE is heterogeneous and differentially associated with symptom experiences. Notably, one profile was characterized by high acceptance and perceived benefits together with high helplessness, indicating that these cognitive responses may coexist. Considering illness cognition profiles together with concurrent symptom burden may provide a basis for more tailored supportive care during the early postoperative period.