Quality of life experienced by patients receiving radiation treatment for cancers of the head and neck
Abstract
The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the quality of life for 58 outpatients during and after a course of radiation treatment for cancers of the head and neck. Data were collected at three time points: T1 (first week of treatment), T2 (last week of treatment), and T3 (1 month after treatment). Patients completed two measures that assessed physical, emotional, functional, and social aspects of well-being: the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance and post hoc t tests were performed to assess changes in quality of life over the three time points. Results indicated overall increased levels of physical and functional symptoms, head and neck specific concerns, and depression between T1 and T2. However, except for depression, there was some improvement between scores on each of these measures of physical and functional well-being between T2 and T3, although this improvement was not to the pretreatment level. The FACT subscales assessing social and emotional well-being, and the HADS subscale showed no significant changes across time. Implications of this study relate to the ongoing need for interventions to assist patients once they have completed the radiation treatment course, and to improved assessment in some areas of emotional distress.
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Patients worry over the medical equipment during external RT.
“worry over the medical equipment”
Patients express difficulties tolerating external RT.
“Patients express difficulties tolerating external RT”
Patients who receive external RT for head and neck (H&N) cancer, immobilized in thermoplastic face masks, have reported the restraint to be one of the worst experiences during the RT period.
“Patients who receive external RT for head and neck (H&N) cancer, immobilized in thermoplastic face masks, have reported the restraint to be one of the worst experiences during the RT period”
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- Authors
- Rose, P., & Yates, P.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Rose, Pauline
- Venue
- Cancer Nursing
- Published
- 2001-08
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 255-263
- ISSN
- 0162-220X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1507205522
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cancer Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Oral health in cancer treatment
- Keywords
- quality of life, head and neck cancer, radiotherapy, FACT-H&N, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, functional well-being, emotional distress, social well-being, outpatients
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nursing Assessment, Oncology Nursing, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors
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