[Research into the psychosocial aspects of ENT tumor surgery (excluding laryngectomy). 4: Status of research and future research goals].

The literature on the psychosocial aspects of head and neck cancer surgery from 1950 to 1995 was reviewed in four parts. In the present Part 4 ten possibly useful targets for future research are formulated: 1. An increase in the comparability of research data; 2. Comparisons of therapeutic alternatives; 3. Identification of psychosocial high-risk patients; 4. Studies on psychotherapeutic interventions; 5. Expanded of the knowledge about preventive work; 6. Searches for new possibilities for widening communication by the treating team; 7. Better understanding of ethical restrictions to surgery; 8. Exploration of psychosocial factors with potentially etiologic importance; 9. Methods for using qualitative approaches to research; 10. Creation of a community of researchers.