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Correlations between long-term quality of life and patient needs and concerns following head and neck cancer treatment and the impact of psychological distress. A multicentric cross-sectional study

  • Head and Neck
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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To assess patient needs and concerns after head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatment and their possible correlations with long-term quality of life (QoL) and to examine the potential impact of psychological distress on these results.

Methods

Alive and disease-free HNSCC patients at least 1 year after treatment were enrolled in this cross-sectional multicentric study and completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and H&N35 QoL questionnaires, the head and neck cancer-specific patient concerns inventory (PCI-HN) questionnaire and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Correlations between QoL outcomes and patient needs and concerns were investigated using Spearman’s correlation tests.

Results

Seventy-two patients were enrolled in the study. Fear of cancer recurrence was the main patient concern followed by dental, salivary, fatigue, speech, and eating problems. The leading patient needs in terms of consultation were to be referred to the surgeon, the speech, and swallow therapist and the oral rehabilitation team. The number of patient concerns correlated negatively (r < .40) with functioning scales score and positively (r > .40) with general and head and neck symptoms. Psychological distress was the main determinant of QoL outcomes (p < .0001). We found a significant impact of gender (p = .002) on the number of patient concerns, and of patient age (p = .003) on the number of staff members selected by patients.

Conclusion

Identification of patient needs and concerns along with multidisciplinary management of persistent symptoms and psychological distress seem essential steps towards improving QoL of HNSCC patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 31 avenue de Valombrose, 06103, Nice, France

    Roxane Elaldi, Boris Scheller, Dorian Culié, Olivier Dassonville, Gilles Poissonnet & Alexandre Bozec

  2. Department of Maxillo-Facial and Head and Neck Surgery, François Baclese Centre, Caen, France

    Lise-Marie Roussel, Audrey Lasne-Cardon & Marie-Yolande Louis

  3. Department of Statistics, Antoine Lacassagne Centre, Côte D’Azur University, Nice, France

    Jocelyn Gal, Emmanuel Chamorey & Renaud Schiappa

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Antoine Lacassagne Centre, Côte D’Azur University, Nice, France

    Esma Saada

  5. Department of Radiotherapy, Antoine Lacassagne Centre, Côte D’Azur University, Nice, France

    Karen Benezery

  6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Centre of Caen, Caen, France

    Emmanuel Babin

Authors
  1. Roxane Elaldi
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  2. Lise-Marie Roussel
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  3. Jocelyn Gal
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  4. Boris Scheller
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  8. Marie-Yolande Louis
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  15. Alexandre Bozec
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Correspondence to Alexandre Bozec.

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Elaldi, R., Roussel, LM., Gal, J. et al. Correlations between long-term quality of life and patient needs and concerns following head and neck cancer treatment and the impact of psychological distress. A multicentric cross-sectional study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 278, 2437–2445 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06326-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06326-8

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