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Mental health-care utilization in survivors of childhood cancer and siblings: the Swiss childhood cancer survivor study

Gianinazzi, Micol ; Rueegg, Corina ; von der Weid, Nicolas ; Niggli, Felix ; Kuehni, Claudia ; Michel, Gisela

In: Supportive Care in Cancer, 2014, vol. 22, no. 2, p. 339-349

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    Title
    • Mental health-care utilization in survivors of childhood cancer and siblings: the Swiss childhood cancer survivor study
    Author
    • Gianinazzi, Micol. Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • Rueegg, Corina. Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • von der Weid, Nicolas. Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Basel UKBB, Spitalstrasse 33, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
    • Niggli, Felix. Department of Oncology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Kuehni, Claudia. Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • Michel, Gisela. Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:326010
    Summary
    Purpose: We aimed to (1) describe the utilization of mental health-care in survivors and siblings, the association with severity of distress, and visits to other professionals in distressed survivors not utilizing mental health-care; and (2) identify factors associated with utilization of mental health-care in distressed survivors. Methods: Within the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, we sent postal questionnaires to all participants aged <16years at diagnosis (1976-2003), who survived ≥5years after diagnosis and were aged ≥16years at study. Survivors and siblings could indicate if they utilized mental health-care in the past year. Psychological distress was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Participants with scores T ≥ 57 on two of three scales or the Global Severity Index were considered distressed. Results: We included 1,602 survivors and 703 siblings. Overall, 160 (10%) and 53 (8%), utilized mental health-care and 203 (14%) and 127 (14%) were considered distressed. Among these, 69 (34%) survivors and 20 (24%) siblings had utilized mental health-care. Participants with higher distress were more likely to utilize mental health-care. Distressed survivors not utilizing mental health-care were more likely to see a medical specialist than nondistressed. In the multivariable regression, factors associated with utilizing mental health-care were higher psychological distress and reporting late effects. Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of developing interventional programs and implementing psychological screening in follow-up of survivors. It is also important to systematically address siblings' needs. In follow-up, patients at risk should be informed about existing possibilities or advised to visit mental health professionals.