Healthcare services and medication use among cancer survivors and their partners: a cross-sectional analysis of 16 European countries
Menée dans 16 pays européens par enquête auprès de 1 174 patients ayant survécu 10 ans à un cancer, de 1 174 partenaires de vie et auprès de témoins, cette étude analyse leur utilisation de soins et de services de santé
Purpose : To estimate the association between a cancer diagnosis and the use of healthcare services and medication among cancer survivors (CS) and their partners (PCS), particularly in the first years after diagnosis. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Fourth Wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe—SHARE (2010–2011); it included individuals aged ??50 years and their partners, from 16 European countries. All CS diagnosed with a first primary cancer within 10 years (n =?1174) and corresponding PCS (n=1174) were country-, sex-, age- and education-matched (1:3) with non-cancer individuals (NC) and partners of non-cancer individuals (PNC), respectively. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were computed. Results : Healthcare use in the previous 12 months and current medication intake were more frequent among CS than NC; the ORs (95% CIs) were 2.56 (2.23–2.94) for ??8 medical contacts, 3.07 (2.62–3.59) for hospital stays and 1.75 (1.52–2.03) for use of ??3 drugs indicated for different health problems. Medical contacts (OR=5.74, 95% CI 4.31–7.65) and hospitals stays (OR=13.88, 95% CI 10.15–18.98) were more frequent among CS diagnosed in the last 2 years. Contacts with medical doctors (??8; OR=1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1.42) were also more common among PCS than PNC. Conclusion : When compared to individuals without cancer, CS diagnosed in the last 10 years, as well as their partners, had an increased healthcare use. Implication for Cancer Survivors : These findings highlight the importance of family-focused care in oncological settings, in order to support patients as well as their partners, who are frequently their closest significant person.