Well-being and quality of life among oral cancer patients - Psychological vulnerability and coping responses upon entering initial treatment

Anne Susann Bachmann; Anna Christina Zaunbauer; Anna Maria Tolke; Michael Siniatchkin; Christoph Kluck; Jörg Wiltfang; Katrin Hertrampf

doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2018.05.042

Well-being and quality of life among oral cancer patients - Psychological vulnerability and coping responses upon entering initial treatment

J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2018 Sep;46(9):1637-1644. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2018.05.042. Epub 2018 May 24.

Authors

Anne Susann Bachmann¹, Anna Christina Zaunbauer², Anna Maria Tolke², Michael Siniatchkin³, Christoph Kluck², Jörg Wiltfang², Katrin Hertrampf²

Affiliations

¹ Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, (Head of Clinic: Prof. Dr. Dr. Jörg Wiltfang), Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 26, D-24118, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, (Head of Clinic: Prof. Dr. Dr. Jörg Wiltfang), Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 26, D-24118, Kiel, Germany.
³ Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, (Head of Institute: Prof. Dr. Michael Siniatchkin), Campus Kiel, Preußer Str. 1-9, D-24105, Kiel, Germany.

PMID: 29960813
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2018.05.042

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the psychological constitution and potential coping mechanisms of oral cancer patients when they enter initial treatment. This study aimed at 1) establishing a feasible study protocol and 2) implementing it to examine patients' coping and psychological responses during the initial treatment phase in the hospital.

Methods: In three consecutive feasibility phases a study procedure including measurement time points and instrumentation as well as a patient recruitment strategy was developed. To assess patients' responses, the following qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (questionnaires) measures were applied: WOC-CA, briefCOPE, HADS, EORTCQlQC30- H&N35 and SAM/POMS.

Results: Results revealed a highly burdened and distressed patient group that had not yet developed clear coping strategies. Further, one third of examined patients showed severe levels of anxiety and depression, indicating a high vulnerability to develop psychological disorders.

Conclusion: At this early stage of oral cancer treatment, potential psychosocial interventions should prioritize addressing anxiety and depression to enable patients to develop functional coping strategies later on.

Keywords: Coping; Feasibility; Oral cancer; Psychological vulnerability; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety / psychology
Depression / psychology
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms / psychology*
Mouth Neoplasms / therapy*
Quality of Life / psychology*
Stress, Psychological / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires