Factors affecting the health-promoting behavior of thyroid cancer survivors: comparison by stage of cancer survivorship

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in factors affecting health-promoting behaviors according to the survival stage of thyroid cancer survivors. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study analyzed data from 354 thyroid cancer survivors after diagnosis. The survivors were divided into three stages: (1) the acute stage (< 2 years after diagnosis), (2) extended stage (2–5 years after diagnosis), and (3) permanent stage (≥ 5 years after diagnosis). To measure health-promoting behavior, the revised Korean version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile questionnaires was used. The factors affecting the health-promoting behavior included social support, self-efficacy, fear of recurrence, and symptoms. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze factors affecting the health-promoting behavior according to survival stage. Result: The factors affecting the health-promoting behavior of thyroid cancer survivors differed by survival stage. In the acute stage, the factors of health-promoting behavior were self-efficacy (t = 4.76, p