Online support groups for head and neck cancer and health-related quality of life.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Algtewi E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5548849 | biostudies-other | 2017 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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Project description:To assess the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients and the various factors which affect the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients was the main aim of the study. A prospective longitudinal study with a sample size of 130 patients was done within the time period of one and a half years. Patients with biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated as per their treatment protocol either by combined modality or single modality. Follow up at the completion of treatment was done and the quality of life questionnaire was filled out. QoL was assessed pre-treatment and at 4 times at different stages of follow up period. Demographic data was also taken into consideration for comparison which showed that head and neck cancer is more common in the males (80%) between the age group of 35-50 years, chronic tobacco chewers (45%) with most common site of cancer being the oral cavity (61%). Majority of the patients presented at Stage IV of their disease (35%) with largest HRQoL changes seen within the first three months after commencement of treatment. The most debilitating modality of treatment was Surgery + CTRT. Detailed assessment of the various factors which hamper the QoL in head and neck cancer patients should be done by which we can provide quality care and a completely new view into the health care experience and improving patient satisfaction.
| S-EPMC6848337 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess utility coefficients of health states following two minimally invasive surgical approaches for head and neck cancer, namely trans-oral robotic surgery and trans-oral laser microsurgery. Those utility coefficients will be later exploited in an economic evaluation study comparing the two approaches.MethodsThe above cited economic evaluation will be done from the Swiss healthcare system perspective and, as such, Swiss healthcare professionals were interviewed to elicit utility coefficients. Health states, ranging from remission to palliative care, were described using clinical vignettes. A computerized tool (UceWeb) implementing standard gamble and rating scale methods was used.ResultsUtility coefficients for 18 different health states were elicited with the two methods from 47 individuals, for a total of 1692 values. Elicited values varied from 0.980 to 0.213. Comparison with values elicited in previous studies show the need for population-specific elicitation, mainly for the worst health states.ConclusionHerein we report health utility coefficients for the Swiss population for health states following minimally invasive trans-oral surgery. This study provides utility values that can be used not only for a specific cost-utility analysis, but also for future studies involving the same health states.
| S-EPMC8565022 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionHealth related quality of life information gives patients and carers an indication of how they will be affected following treatment. Such knowledge can promote realistic expectations and help patients come to terms with their outcome. The aim of this paper is to describe the background development of patient information sheets produced at our unit.MethodsThe data were compiled using a common head and neck cancer specific quality of life questionnaire (University of Washington Quality of Life [UW-QOL]). There are 12 domains comprising activity, appearance, anxiety, chewing, mood, pain, recreation, saliva, shoulder, speech, swallowing and taste. The data were collected over 19 years at our unit and focus on follow-up records at around 2 years as this gives a good indication of health related quality of life in survivorship. UW-QOL questionnaires were available from 1,511 patients treated following primary diagnosis of head and neck cancer, and there were 24 subgroups based on cancer site, stage and treatment. There were 2 other subgroups: 132 having transoral laser resection and 176 having laryngectomy.ResultsThe patient and carer research forum helped to design the information sheets, which display overall quality of life, percentages with 'good' outcome and 'significant problem' by domain, and the most important domains. Three examples are included in this paper: early stage oral cancer treated by surgery alone, early laryngeal cancer treated by surgery alone, and late stage oropharyngeal cancer treated by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. All 26 subgroup information sheets are available in booklet form and on the internet.ConclusionsHow the surgical community best utilises this type of resource needs further research.
| S-EPMC5096582 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The impact of routine assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on satisfaction with care and the HRQoL of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy was assessed. Patients with HNC were randomly assigned to two arms, with stratification on sex, cancer localization, and stage of the disease. In the intervention arm, the patients completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires first before randomization, then before each medical appointment during radiotherapy (7 weeks), and then every 3 months until 1 year and at 2 years thereafter. In the control arm, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires were completed before randomization and at 1 year and 2 years thereafter. The primary endpoint was mean change in HRQoL at score at 2 years from baseline assessed by EQ VAS from the EuroQol questionnaire. The secondary endpoint was mean change in satisfaction with care at 2 years from baseline assessed by QLQ-SAT32. Two hundred patients with head and neck cancers were involved in this study (mean age, 58.83 years (range, 36.56-87.89)), of whom 100 were assigned to the intervention arm and 100 to the control arm. Patients in the intervention arm were reported to have a statistically significant increase in EQ VAS at 2 years (p < 0.0001) and exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (mean change at 2 years from baseline = 10.46). In the two arms, mean differences between arms were not statistically significant, but minimal clinically important differences in favor of the intervention arm were found for EQ VAS (mean change difference (MD) = 5.84), satisfaction with care, in particular waiting times (MD = 10.85) and satisfaction with accessibility (MD = 6.52). Routine assessment of HRQoL improves HRQoL and satisfaction with care for patients with HNC treated with radiotherapy.
| S-EPMC8345055 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Patients with cancer deal with problems related to physical, psychological, social, and emotional functions. The aim was to investigate malnutrition defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in relation to health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with head and neck cancer. This was a prospective observational research study with 273 patients followed at the start of treatment, seven weeks, and one year. Data collection included nutritional status and support, and the questionnaires: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and neck cancer module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Malnutrition was defined using the GLIM criteria. The study showed that patients with malnutrition had significantly greater deterioration in their health-related quality of life at seven weeks. On a group level, health-related quality of life was most severe at this time point and some scores still implied problems at one year. Significantly, more patients reported anxiety at the start of treatment whereas significantly more patients reported depression at seven weeks. Over the trajectory of care, the need for support often varies. Psychosocial support is imperative and at the end of treatment extra focus should be put on nutritional interventions and managing treatment-related symptoms to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life. In the long-term, head and neck cancer survivors need help to find strategies to cope with the remaining sequel.
| S-EPMC8066581 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:The incidence of head and neck cancer is increasing slightly. Head and neck cancer but also it's necessary and often successful treatment may affect general domains of health-related quality of life and provoke a variety of adverse symptoms and side effects, both during and after treatment. The objective of this study was to compare a person-centred care intervention in terms of health-related quality of life, disease-specific symptoms or problems, with traditional care as a control group for patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS:In this randomized controlled trial, person-centred-care intervention and traditional care (control) groups comprised 54 and 42 patients, respectively. Outcome measures used were: the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-C35. Both groups answered the questionnaires at baseline and after 4, 10, 18 and 52 weeks from start of treatment. The questionnaires' scores were compared between groups by using independent samples test and non-parametric test for continuous variables. For categorical data, Fisher's exact test was used. Longitudinal data were analysed using generalized linear models for normally distributed repeated measures data. RESULTS:At baseline, the intervention and control groups were comparable in terms of medical and sociodemographic variables, clinical characteristics, health-related quality of life and disease-specific symptoms or problems. At all the follow-up points, even during the worst period for the patients, the person-centred-care group consistently reported better scores than the control group. The differences were numerically but not always statistically significant. When testing longitudinal data, statistically significant results were found for head and neck cancer-specific problems, swallowing (p?=?0.014), social eating (p?=?0.048) and feeling ill (p?=?0.021). CONCLUSIONS:The results from this study suggest that adopting the person-centred-care concept practiced here could be a way to improve function and wellbeing in patients with head and neck cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION:The study was retrospectively registered in 2016-12-05 in Clinical Trials gov. "Can a Person-centred-care Intervention Improve Health-related Quality of Life in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer" registration number: NCT02982746.
| S-EPMC5320778 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objective:Physical rehabilitation programs hold the potential to mitigate deterioration in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with head and neck cancer. The objective was to assess development in relevant domains of HRQoL following a physical exercise and nutrition intervention administrated during or after treatment. Methods:In a pilot study, 41 patients were randomized to resistance training and oral nutritional supplements during (EN-DUR, n = 20) or after (EN-AF, n = 21) radiotherapy. Global health status/QoL (GHS) and physical functioning (PF) were measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire at baseline, week 6, and week 14. Differences between the groups were assessed by analysis of covariance. A difference of ?10 points in GHS and PF was interpreted as clinically relevant. Results:No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups; however, clinically relevant changes and differences in GHS and PF were observed. From baseline to week 6, GHS decreased 9 points in the EN-DUR group and 23 points in the EN-AF group and PF decreased 13 points and 21 points, respectively. From week 6 to week 14, GHS increased 14 points in the EN-DUR group and 26 points EN-AF group and PF did not change (0 points) in the EN-DUR group and increased 16 points in the EN-AF group. Conclusion:The findings from the present pilot study are promising and indicate that a physical rehabilitation program may have a positive impact on HRQoL during treatment and enhance recovery after treatment. A definitive randomized trial is warranted. Level of Evidence:1b-Individual randomized controlled trial.
| S-EPMC7178444 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are prone to have a poor health-related quality of life after cancer treatment. This study investigated the effect of the nurse counselling and after intervention (NUCAI) on the health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms of HNC patients between 12 and 24 months after cancer treatment. METHODS: Two hundred and five HNC patients were randomly allocated to NUCAI (N=103) or usual care (N=102). The 12-month nurse-led NUCAI is problem-focused and patient-driven and aims to help HNC patients manage with the physical, psychological and social consequences of their disease and its treatment. Health-related quality of life was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ H&N35. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the CES-D. RESULTS: At 12 months the intervention group showed a significant (P<0.05) improvement in emotional and physical functioning, pain, swallowing, social contact, mouth opening and depressive symptoms. At 18 months, global quality of life, role and emotional functioning, pain, swallowing, mouth opening and depressive symptoms were significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group, and at 24 months emotional functioning and fatigue were significantly better in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The NUCAI effectively improved several domains of health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in HNC patients and would seem a promising intervention for implementation in daily clinical practice.
| S-EPMC3915114 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundDifferences in health care utilization by educational level can contribute to inequalities in health. Understanding health care utilization and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of educational groups may provide important insights into the presence of these inequalities. Therefore, we assessed characteristics, health care utilization and HRQoL of injury patients by educational level.MethodData for this registry based cohort study were extracted from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System. At 6-month follow-up, a stratified sample of patients (≥25 years) with an unintentional injury reported their health care utilization since discharge and completed the EQ-5-Dimension, 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) and visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). Logistic regression analyses, adjusting for patient and injury characteristics, were performed to investigate the association between educational level and health care utilization. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse HRQoL scores by educational level, for hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients.ResultsThis study included 2606 patients; 47.9% had a low, 24.4% a middle level, and 27.7% a high level of education. Patients with low education were more often female, were older, had more comorbidities, and lived more often alone compared to patients with high education (p < 0.001). Patients with high education were more likely to visit a general practitioner (OR: 1.38; CI: 1.11-1.72) but less likely to be hospitalized (OR: 0.79; CI: 0.63-1.00) and to have nursing care at home (OR: 0.66; CI: 0.49-0.90) compared to their low educated counterparts. For both hospitalized an non-hospitalized persons, those with low educational level reported lower HRQoL and more problems on all dimensions than those with a higher educational level.ConclusionPost-discharge, level of education was associated with visiting the general practitioner and nursing care at home, but not significantly with use of other health care services in the 6 months post-injury. Additionally, patients with a low educational level had a poorer HRQoL. However, other factors including age and sex may also explain a part of these differences between educational groups. It is important that patients are aware of potential consequences of their trauma and when and why they should consult a specific health care service after ED or hospital discharge.
| S-EPMC8451142 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo compile and evaluate the evidence on the effects on health and social outcomes of computer based peer to peer communities and electronic self support groups, used by people to discuss health related issues remotely.Design and data sourcesAnalysis of studies identified from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Evidence Based Medicine Reviews, Electronics and Communications Abstracts, Computer and Information Systems Abstracts, ERIC, LISA, ProQuest Digital Dissertations, Web of Science.Selection of studiesWe searched for before and after studies, interrupted time series, cohort studies, or studies with control groups; evaluating health or social outcomes of virtual peer to peer communities, either as stand alone interventions or in the context of more complex systems with peer to peer components.Main outcome measuresPeer to peer interventions and co-interventions studied, general characteristics of studies, outcome measures used, and study results.Results45 publications describing 38 distinct studies met our inclusion criteria: 20 randomised trials, three meta-analyses of n of 1 trials, three non-randomised controlled trials, one cohort study, and 11 before and after studies. Only six of these evaluated "pure" peer to peer communities, and one had a factorial design with a "peer to peer only" arm, whereas 31 studies evaluated complex interventions, which often included psychoeducational programmes or one to one communication with healthcare professionals, making it impossible to attribute intervention effects to the peer to peer community component. The outcomes measured most often were depression and social support measures; most studies did not show an effect. We found no evidence to support concerns over virtual communities harming people.ConclusionsNo robust evidence exists of consumer led peer to peer communities, partly because most peer to peer communities have been evaluated only in conjunction with more complex interventions or involvement with health professionals. Given the abundance of unmoderated peer to peer groups on the internet, research is required to evaluate under which conditions and for whom electronic support groups are effective and how effectiveness in delivering social support electronically can be maximised.
| S-EPMC411092 | biostudies-literature