Screening and Psycho-Oncological Support for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and Brain Malignancies Before Radiotherapy With Mask Fixation: Results of a Feasibility Study

This single-center, single-arm trial investigates the feasibility of a psycho-oncological care program, which aims to reduce psychological distress and improve compliance with radiotherapy with mask fixation in patients with head and neck cancer or brain malignancies. The care program comprised (1) a screening/needs assessment and (2) the provision of a psycho-oncological intervention using imaginative stabilization techniques for distressed patients (distress due to anxiety ≥5) or in a case of subjective interest in the psycho-oncological intervention. Another allocation path to the intervention was directly through the radiation oncologist in charge who classified the patient as: in need of support to tolerate the immobilization device. Of a total of 1,020 screened patients, 257 (25.2%) patients indicated a distress ≥5 and 141 (13.8%) patients reported panic attacks. 25% of the patients reported a subjective interest in psycho-oncological support. A total of 35 patients received the psycho-oncological intervention, of which 74% were assigned by radiation oncologists. In this small patient cohort, no significant pre-post effects in terms of depression, anxiety, distress, and quality of life (mental and physical component scores) could be detected. Our results indicate a good feasibility (interdisciplinary workflow and cooperation, allocation by physicians in charge) of the psycho-oncological care program for this cohort of patients before radiotherapy with mask fixation. The screening results underline the high psychological distress and demand for psycho-oncological support. However, since the utilization of our intervention was low, future studies should reduce the barriers and improve compliance to psycho-oncological services by these patients.Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do #DRKS00013493

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Factors associated with psychological distress for couples facing Head and Neck Cancer: A systematic literature review

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.5686 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Linda McCabe‐White ◽

Nima Moghaddam ◽

Anna Tickle ◽

Sanchia Biswas

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Literature Review ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Factors Associated

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Psychological distress in patients with head and neck cancer: review

British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ◽

10.1054/bjom.2000.0547 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

M. Frampton

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Cancer Review

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P048 The Risk Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.1001/archotol.132.8.874-c ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 132 (8) ◽

pp. 874

Author(s):

M. Schultzel ◽

G. Robins-Sadler ◽

K. L. Clark ◽

M. Loscalzo ◽

R. Weisman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Factors Associated

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Multicenter phase II study of oral care program for head and neck cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.e17003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 33 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e17003-e17003

Author(s):

Tomoya Yokota ◽

Tetsuhito Konishi ◽

Hiroyuki Tachibana ◽

Takashi Yurikusa ◽

Satoshi Hamauchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Phase Ii Study ◽

Oral Care ◽

Care Program ◽

Multicenter Phase

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Prospective, Longitudinal Quality-of-Life Study of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Feasibility Study Including the EORTC QLQ-C30

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/s0194-5998(97)70246-8 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 116 (6) ◽

pp. 666-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Eva Hammerlid ◽

Kristin Bjordal ◽

Marianne Ahlner-ELMQVIST ◽

Magnus Jannert ◽

Stein Kaasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Eortc Qlq C30 ◽

Eortc Qlq

Despite modern advances in the treatment of head and neck cancer, the survival rate fails to improve. Considering the different treatment modalities involved, quality of life has been thought of as an additional end point criterion for use in clinical trials. A Nordic protocol to measure the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients before, during, and after treatment was established. Before the study, a pilot study was done with this protocol. The main purpose of this pilot study was to find out whether this cancer population would answer quality-pf-life questionnaires repeatedly (six times) over a 1-year period and whether the chosen questionnaires—a core questionnaire (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)), a tumor-specific questionnaire, and a psychological distress measure (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD))—were sensitive for changes to functions and symptoms during the study year. The results presented in this article all refer to the pilot study. Forty-eight consecutive patients agreed to participate in the study. The most common tumor locations were the oral cavity (17) and the larynx (12). Almost all patients received combined treatment: 45 of 48 radiation therapy, 18 of 48 chemotherapy, and 17 of 48 surgery. After the primary treatment, 40 patients had complete tumor remission. Four of the 48 patients did not answer any questionnaires and were therefore excluded from the study. Of the remaining 44 patients, 3 died during the study year, and another 6 withdrew for various reasons. Thirty-five (85%) of the 41 patients alive at the 1-year follow-up answered all six questionnaires and thus completed the study. Mailed questionnaires were used throughout the study. All questionnaires were well accepted and found to be sensitive to changes during the study year. The greatest variability was found for symptoms and functions related specifically to head and neck cancer. The symptoms were swallowing difficulties, hoarse voice, sore mouth, dry mouth, and problems with taste. They all showed the same pattern, with an increase of symptoms during and just after finishing the treatment. The HAD scale revealed a high level of psychological distress, with 21% probable cases of psychiatric morbidity at diagnosis. In conclusion, it was shown that the study design and questionnaires were feasible for the forthcoming prospective quality-of-life assessment of Swedish and Norwegian head and neck cancer patients.

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