Latent profile analysis of reproductive concerns and their predictors among patients with early-onset cancer: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential categories and characteristics of reproductive concerns and analyze the influencing factors of different potential categories among patients with early-onset cancer.

METHODS

1049 patients with early-onset cancer from six hospitals in China, were involved from March 2023 to August 2024. Data were collected by the General Information Questionnaire, the Reproductive Concerns after Cancer Scale, the Sexual Function Scale for Cancer Patients, the Self-report Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, the Family APGAR Index, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Latent profile analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed to identify the potential categories of reproductive concerns and influencing factors.

RESULTS

Four potential categories of reproductive concerns were identified: high infertility acceptance and children's health group (22.0%), low reproductive concerns group (30.0%), moderate reproductive concerns group (38.8%), and high reproductive concerns group (9.2%). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that age, gender, marital status, number of children, education level, residence, cancer category, chemoradiotherapy, sexual dysfunctions, symptom distress, illness perception, and social support were the factors affecting the potential categories of reproductive concerns among patients with early-onset cancer (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Reproductive concerns in patients with early-onset cancer existed heterogeneity. Identifying characteristics and adopting targeted intervention strategies, focusing on sexual dysfunctions, symptom distress, illness perception and enhancing social support, can alleviate reproductive concerns.