Melissa Henry1,2,3,4,5, Ali Alias6, Maria Cherba7,8, Claudia Woronko7, Zeev Rosberger9,7,10, Michael Hier9,11,12, Anthony Zeitouni12,13, Karen Kost12,13, Alex Mlynarek11,12,13, Keith Richardson12,13, Martin Black11,12, Christina MacDonald11,14, Gabrielle Chartier11,14, Saul Frenkiel11,12,13. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. melissa.henry@mcgill.ca. 2. Department of Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. melissa.henry@mcgill.ca. 3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. melissa.henry@mcgill.ca. 4. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. melissa.henry@mcgill.ca. 5. Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte Ste. Catherine Road, Pavilion E room E-872, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada. melissa.henry@mcgill.ca. 6. Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 7. Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte Ste. Catherine Road, Pavilion E room E-872, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada. 8. Department of Communication, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. 9. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 10. Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 11. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. 12. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 13. Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University Health Centre-Head and Neck Surgery, Montreal, Canada. 14. Department of Nursing, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at identifying supportive care needs of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC-P) immediately post-treatment, finding early predictors of unmet needs, and contrasting how immediate post-treatment needs differed from needs in longer-term survivorship. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study of 223 consecutive adults (313 approached; 72% participation) newly diagnosed with a first occurrence of primary HNC. Patients completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form (SCNS), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, and other outcomes. Medical chart reviews were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 68% of patients (n = 145/223) completed the SCNS. The multiple linear regression indicated that when controlled for medical variables, patients presented higher levels of unmet needs when they presented with higher level of anxiety upon HNC diagnosis (p = 0.03), higher neuroticism (p = 0.03), and more stressful life events in the year pre-diagnosis (p = 0.01). Patients immediately post-treatment had a wider variety of unmet needs compared with those in extended survivorship, with psychological unmet needs most prevalent at both time points. Immediately post-treatment, patients needed more support regarding pain (p = 0.04) and worries about treatment results (p = 0.05), whereas patients in longer-term survivorship needed more support regarding anxiety (p = 0.02), changes in sexual relationships (p = 0.04), and fear of death and dying (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study identifies areas needing further development to improve quality of care for HNC-P in the immediate post-treatment period, as well as early determinants of unmet needs. HNC clinics may want to routinely screen for anxiety, neuroticism, and burden from other life events, to pro-actively address needs upon treatment completion and alleviate disease burden.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at identifying supportive care needs of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC-P) immediately post-treatment, finding early predictors of unmet needs, and contrasting how immediate post-treatment needs differed from needs in longer-term survivorship. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study of 223 consecutive adults (313 approached; 72% participation) newly diagnosed with a first occurrence of primary HNC. Patients completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form (SCNS), the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, and other outcomes. Medical chart reviews were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 68% of patients (n = 145/223) completed the SCNS. The multiple linear regression indicated that when controlled for medical variables, patients presented higher levels of unmet needs when they presented with higher level of anxiety upon HNC diagnosis (p = 0.03), higher neuroticism (p = 0.03), and more stressful life events in the year pre-diagnosis (p = 0.01). Patients immediately post-treatment had a wider variety of unmet needs compared with those in extended survivorship, with psychological unmet needs most prevalent at both time points. Immediately post-treatment, patients needed more support regarding pain (p = 0.04) and worries about treatment results (p = 0.05), whereas patients in longer-term survivorship needed more support regarding anxiety (p = 0.02), changes in sexual relationships (p = 0.04), and fear of death and dying (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study identifies areas needing further development to improve quality of care for HNC-P in the immediate post-treatment period, as well as early determinants of unmet needs. HNC clinics may want to routinely screen for anxiety, neuroticism, and burden from other life events, to pro-actively address needs upon treatment completion and alleviate disease burden.
Entities:
Keywords:
Head and neck cancer; Oncology; Post-treatment; Supportive care needs; Survivorship
Authors: Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar; Nur Amirah Hamdan; Norhaliza Abd Hamid; Rama Krsna Rajandram; Raynuha Mahadevan; Hazli Zakaria; Mohd Razif Mohamad Yunus; Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-03-15 Impact factor: 3.240