Changes in supportive care needs over time from diagnosis up to two years after treatment in head and neck cancer patients: A prospective cohort study

Dominique Molenaar, Irma M. Verdonck-de Leeuw, Birgit I. Lissenberg-Witte, Robert P. Takes, Chris H.J. Terhaard, Johannes A. Langendijk, C. René Leemans, Femke Jansen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Objectives: To investigate changes in supportive care needs (SCNs) over time from diagnosis up to 2 years after treatment among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, in relation to demographic, personal, clinical, psychological, physical, social, lifestyle, and cancer-related quality of life factors. Materials and methods: Data of the longitudinal NETherlands QUality of Life and Biomedical Cohort study (NET-QUBIC) was used. SCNs were measured using the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34) and HNC-specific module (SCNS–HNC) before treatment, three, six, 12 and 24 months after treatment. Linear mixed model analyses were used to study SCNs on the physical & daily living (PDL), psychological (PSY), sexuality (SEX), health system, information and patient support (HSIPS), HNC-functioning (HNC-Function), and lifestyle (HNC-Lifestyle) domain, in relation to demographic, personal, clinical, psychological, physical, social, lifestyle, and cancer-related symptoms as measured at baseline. Results: In total, 563 patients were included. SCNs changed significantly over time. At baseline, 65% had ≥1 moderate/high SCN, versus 42.8% at 24 months. Changes in PDL needs were associated with gender, tumor location, smoking, fear of cancer recurrence, oral pain, and appetite loss, changes in PSY with tumor location, fear of recurrence, social support, emotional functioning, physical functioning, coughing, and use of painkillers, changes in SEX with treatment, changes in HSIPS with muscle strength, changes in HNC-Function with tumor stage, location, social support, physical functioning, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and speech problems, and changes in HNC-Lifestyle with smoking and alcohol use. Conclusion: SCNs diminish over time, but remain prevalent in HNC patients.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100047
JournalOral Oncology Reports
Volume6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • Head and neck cancer
  • Lifestyle needs
  • Physical and daily living
  • Psychological needs
  • Quality of life
  • Sexuality needs
  • Supportive care needs
  • Survivorship

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