Psychological Problems among Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Relation to Utilization of Healthcare and Informal Care and Costs in the First Two Years after Diagnosis

Florie E van Beek, Femke Jansen, Rob J Baatenburg de Jong, Johannes A Langendijk, C René Leemans, Johannes H Smit, Robert P Takes, Chris H J Terhaard, José A E Custers, Judith B Prins, Birgit I Lissenberg-Witte, Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: To investigate associations between psychological problems and the use of healthcare and informal care and total costs among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

METHOD: Data were used of the NETherlands QUality of Life and Biomedical Cohort study. Anxiety and depression disorder (diagnostic interview), distress, symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS), and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and cancer worry scale (CWS) were measured at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Care use and costs (questionnaire) were measured at baseline, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up. Associations between psychological problems and care use/costs were investigated using logistic and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS: Data of 558 patients were used. Distress, symptoms of anxiety or depression, FCR, and/or anxiety disorder at baseline were significantly associated with higher use of primary care, supportive care, and/or informal care (odds ratios (ORs) between 1.55 and 4.76). Symptoms of anxiety, FCR, and/or depression disorder at 12-month follow-up were significantly associated with use of primary care, supportive care, and/or informal care (ORs between 1.74 and 6.42). Distress, symptoms of anxiety, and FCR at baseline were associated with higher total costs.

DISCUSSION: HNC patients with psychological problems make more use of healthcare and informal care and have higher costs. This is not the result of worse clinical outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3200-3214
Number of pages15
JournalCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)
Volume29
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2022

Keywords

  • Cohort Studies
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms/complications
  • Humans
  • Patient Care
  • Quality of Life/psychology
  • Stress, Psychological/diagnosis
  • costs
  • informal care
  • head and neck cancer
  • mental health
  • psychology
  • healthcare use

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