Understanding Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment: Prevalence, Help-seeking Behaviors, and Barriers Among Adult Cancer Survivors

Research Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) among adult cancer survivors
To explore help-seeking behaviors among adult cancer survivors with self-reported cancer-related cognitive impairment
To identify barriers to seeking assistance among adult cancer survivors with self-reported cancer-related cognitive impairment

Design: This study utilized a cross-sectional design to collect data through an online survey.

Setting: The survey was disseminated online, reaching a sample of cancer survivors across various geographic locations.

Participants: Eligible participants were adult cancer survivors without primary or metastatic brain tumors or progressive neurological diseases. A total of 135 participants met the inclusion criteria for this study.

Interventions: Participants were asked about their experiences with CRCI and their likelihood of seeking assistance from healthcare providers, personal connections, and independent searching. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to understand predictors of help-seeking behaviors.

Main Outcome Measures: The main outcomes included the prevalence of CRCI, help-seeking behaviors, and factors influencing these behaviors among cancer survivors.

Results: Among eligible participants, 82.58% confirmed experiencing CRCI, yet only 27.38% sought assistance for cognitive-communication impairment. Healthcare providers were the preferred source of help. Regression analyses revealed age as a significant predictor of help-seeking, with older participants more likely to seek assistance. Qualitative analysis identified barriers to help-seeking, including lack of awareness, reluctance, and feeling invalidated by healthcare professionals.

Conclusions: CRCI significantly impacts the lives of cancer survivors, yet access to rehabilitation services remains limited. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in addressing CRCI, but barriers exist, including a lack of awareness and reluctance to seek help. Integrating rehabilitation services into oncology care and enhancing patient-provider communication are both essential for addressing CRCI effectively.

Author(s) Disclosures: I am employed as an assistant professor in the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences at Indiana University South Bend. I have no other financial or non-financial disclosures to report.