Work

Identifying the heterogeneity of self-advocacy in patients with gynecological cancer: a latent class profile analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Gynecological cancers lead to a heavy global disease burden and severe physical and psychological distress. Self-advocacy can improve patients’ prognosis and quality of life. This study aimed to explore self-advocacy in patients with gynecological cancer and evaluate heterogeneity among different subgroups. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from a longitudinal survey that assessed the self-advocacy of patients with gynecological cancer who received cancer treatment at a hospital in Fujian, China (N = 155). We identified latent classes based on the subdomains of the Chinese Version of the Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship Scale (FSACS) using latent class profile analysis and then examined the factors related to latent class membership using multinomial logistic regression and correlation analyses. RESULTS: Two latent classes were identified: low-level FSACS (Type 1, 29.7%) and high-level FSACS (Type 2, 70.3%). Logistic regression showed that age and treatment methods were predictive factors for the potential category grouping of self-advocacy among gynecological cancer survivors (P < 0.05). The total FSACS score of gynecological cancer survivors was 66.78 ± 17.86. There was a positive correlation between the total FSACS scores and confrontation (r = 0.197, P < 0.05), subjective support (r = 0.181, P < 0.05), and utilization of support (r = 0.263, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study has several limitations, including a cross-sectional design that restricts causal inference and a single-hospital sample that may reduce external validity and introduce selection bias. Patients in various subgroups displayed personalized self-advocacy. Older age and multimodal therapy options may significantly increase the risk in individuals with low self-advocacy. Healthcare providers should implement targeted strategies to enhance self-advocacy among this population.

Source: BMC Women s Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12905-026-04480-5

Authors: Renqin Lin, Wenjie Zeng

Institutions: Fujian Health College, Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Cancer survivorship and care

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,890