Developing the social distress scale for head and neck cancer outpatients in Japan

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minako Deno ◽  
Mie Tashiro ◽  
Mitsunori Miyashita ◽  
Takahiro Asakage ◽  
Koji Takahashi ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:This study assessed the factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent and discriminant validity of a scale used to measure social distress in Japanese head and neck cancer outpatients with facial disfigurement.Method:The sample included 225 Japanese outpatients with head and neck cancer, including 129 patients with facial disfigurement. Participants' level of social distress was assessed through our scale, the European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer questionnaire (EORTC) QLQ-H&N35 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS).Results:Factor analyses confirmed the structure of two subscales of the social distress scale. Social distress was significantly correlated with the social contact subscale of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 and the HADS.Significance of results:Results demonstrated preliminary reliability and validity of the social distress scale. This scale may extend social adjustment research by revealing its determinants and effects for head and neck cancer with facial disfigurement in Japan.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16005-e16005
Author(s):  
Ebru Atasever Akkas ◽  
Birsen Yucel ◽  
Saadettin Kilickap ◽  
Yillar Okur ◽  
Turgut Kacan ◽  
...  

e16005 Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of radiotherapy on the life quality in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Between 2007 and 2010 years, 82 head and neck cancer patients who had taken radiotherapy at Cumhuriyet University Department of Radiation Oncology were assessed at the beginning, midline of the treatment and 1 and 6 months after radiotherapy with European Organization for Reseach and Treatment of Cancer Ouality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35). Wilcoxon sign test were used in the statistical analysis in SPSS version 15.0. Results: Seventy two (%88) men, 10 (%12) women; were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 57 (20-80). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequently seen case in 69 (%84) patients. The distribution of the patients according to the localization: larynx carcinoma in 37 (%45) patients, oral cavity tumor in 21 (%26) patients, nasopharynx carcinoma in 14 (%17) patients, paraphypopharynx in 8 (%10) patients and primary unknown in 2 (%2) patients were present. All the symptom scores were affected negatively at the midline, the end, 1 mount after radiotherapy than before the radiotherapy. Pain, swallowing, speech, social eating, social contact, less sexuality, feeling ill, weight loss, weight gain of the symptoms scale scores showed significant improvement at 6 months after the radiotherapy (p<0,05). However it was seen that senses, teeth problems, dry mouth, sticky saliva were affected negatively in the 6th month of radiotherapy than the beginning. Conclusions: In radiotherapy, the life quality of the patients has significantly degraded during the treatment and 1 month after the treatment. However after six months, all the symptom scales were measured as in the beginning. [Table: see text]


2015 ◽  
Vol 04 (04) ◽  
pp. 179-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujal Mitul Parkar ◽  
Mihir N. Shah

Abstract Aim: The aim was to identify the literature and to assess the association between quality-of-life (QoL) and head and neck cancer (HNC) related outcomes systemically. Materials and Methods: The full articles published in English language bio-medical journals between 1992 and December 2014 were searched using Medline database. The keywords used for searching the articles include the combination of "health-related of QoL," "QoL," "HNC." The search limited only to the observational studies using questionnaires European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C 30 and EORTC QLQ H and N 35. Purely psychological studies were excluded. Results: A total of 5055 articles were retrieved, and 16 articles were selected for this review. Of 16 observational studies, 13 (81.25%) were prospective cohort studies while remaining 3 (18.75%) were cross-sectional studies. The main findings of the studies revealed that the treatment of HNC had a statistically significant influence on QoL. Others associated factors like age, female sex, duration of treatment, advance tumor, and site of the tumor has also the impact on QoL on patients suffering from HNC. Conclusion: This review provides evidence for a positive relationship between cancer-related outcomes and QoL. Assessment of QoL in relation to HNC with proper methodology and validated instruments is lacking hence there is a need for further evidence to support the relation between cancer and QoL.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miho Suzuki ◽  
Minako Deno ◽  
Mie Myers ◽  
Takahiro Asakage ◽  
Koji Takahashi ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:The present study sought to examine the impact of physical symptoms, facial disfigurement, adequacy of preoperative information, and social support on anxiety and depression in Japanese patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who had undergone surgery.Method:A cross-sectional study with 194 patients was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. This instruments included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Head and Neck cancer module (QLQ–H&N35), and a Social Support Scale developed by Okabayashi et al. (1997).Results:The majority (56.7%) had surgery two or more years before completing the questionnaire. More than 25% of respondents showed anxiety or depression. Higher levels of perceived social support were associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). Sensory problems were associated with anxiety, and reduced sexuality was associated with depression (p < 0.01). Perceived disfigurement and adequacy of preoperative information were not associated with anxiety or depression.Significance of Results:Survivors of HNC experience anxiety and depression for an extended period of time. Social support may alleviate the severity of these disorders. More research is needed to confirm the impact of facial disfigurement and that of the preoperative information provided by surgeons on psychological distress in HNC patients.


Author(s):  
Frederic Ivan L. Ting ◽  
Aylmer Rex B. Hernandez ◽  
Reno Eufemon P. Cereno ◽  
Irisyl B. Orolfo-Real ◽  
Corazon A. Ngelangel

<p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Background: </span></strong>In the management of head and neck cancer (HNC), assessment of quality of life (QoL) is imperative because of the potentially debilitating effect of treatment toxicities. Currently, there are no published data assessing the QoL in Filipino HNC patients, thus this study.</p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Methods: </span></strong>This cross-sectional study utilized the University of the Philippines - Department of Health Quality of Life scale. Patients with head and neck cancers at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital from February to September 2019 were invited to participate.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Results: </span></strong>A total of 418 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 42 years old (range 18 to 73 years old). In general, Filipino head and neck cancer patients had moderate QoL (mean score of 4.59±0.79). All of the QoL domains (physical, emotional, cognitive, and related functions) had a score of 3-5 (moderate), except for the social status domain which had a mean score of 5.51±0.83 (high). Among socio-demographic factors, patients who are employed and with additional funding sources on top of their income have better global QoL (p&lt;0.01). Clinically, patients with higher stages of disease, fungating tumors, post-laryngectomy, have a feeding tube, with a tracheostomy, and had chemotherapy have lower global QoL (p&lt;0.01).</p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Conclusions: </span></strong>Filipino patients with head and neck cancers have an overall moderate quality of life, with high scores in the social domain. Patients with higher tumor burdens and have been exposed to chemotherapy have lower QoL scores, while patients with financial stability and aid have better QoL scores.</p><p class="abstract"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>


Author(s):  
Ute Goerling ◽  
Thomas Gauler ◽  
Andreas Dietz ◽  
Viktor Grünwald ◽  
Stephan Knipping ◽  
...  

Introduction: CeFCiD was a multicenter phase II study comparing the efficacy of cetuximab, 5-flourouracil, cisplatin with the same regimen adding docetaxel in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer. The primary analysis trial did not demonstrate survival benefit from therapy intensification in first-line recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The current analysis of the trial assessed the impact of treatment on quality of life (QoL). Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire QLQ-C30 and the tumor specific module for head and neck cancer (QLQ-H&N35) were used to assess QoL at baseline (visit 1), after 2 (visit 3), 4 (visit 5), and 6 (visit 7) cycles of chemotherapy. Results: Of 180 patients included in this study, 86 patients (47.8%) completed the questionnaires at baseline. Considering selected scores over treatment time, there was no difference in global quality of life, dyspnea, swallowing and speech between the treatment arms in the course. For fatigue a significant increase from baseline to visit 3 (p=0.02), visit 5 (p=0.002), and to visit 7 (p=0.003) was observed for patients receiving docetaxel (D), cisplatin or carboplatin (P), 5-FU (F) and cetuximab (C). At the end of chemotherapy the manifestation of fatigue was similar compared in the two treatment arms. Discussion/Conclusion: Therapy intensification not adversely affect selected scores of QoL of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN. Nevertheless, fatigue seems to be pronounced in patients treated with docetaxel.


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