Supportive care needs among head and neck cancer patients in the recovery phase from 6 months to 2 years after treatment: which factors matter?

D Molenaar, I M Verdonck-de Leeuw, B I Lissenberg-Witte, R P Takes, R de Bree, J A Langendijk, J A Hardillo, F Lamers, C R Leemans, F Jansen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate which demographic, personal, clinical, physical, psychological, social, lifestyle, and cancer-related quality of life (QoL) factors are associated with (changes in) supportive care needs (SCNs) from 6 months to 2 years after treatment in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

METHODS: Data from the prospective NETherlands QUality of life and BIomedical Cohort (NET-QUBIC) study among HNC patients treated with curative intent was used. SCNs were measured using the Supportive Care Needs Survey 34-item Short-Form (SCNS-SF34) (6 months, 1 and 2 years after treatment) and the 11-item HNC-specific module (SCNS-HNC) (2 years). Multivariable linear mixed model analyses and linear regression analyses were used to study factors associated with changes in SCNs over time (SCNS-SF34) and the level of SCNs at 2 years follow-up (SCNS-SF34 and SCNS-HNC).

RESULTS: Data from 483 patients was used. SCNs in the physical and daily living (PDL), psychological (PSY), and health system, information, and patient support (HSIPS) domains decreased significantly over time. At 2 years follow-up, the highest SCNs were reported regarding lack of energy/tiredness (10.8%). Changes in SCNs and the absolute level of SCNs at 2 years were associated with personal and clinical factors and post-treatment (6 months) with psychological, lifestyle, and cancer-related QoL factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Personal, clinical, psychological, lifestyle, and cancer-related QoL factors were associated with SCNs. These results can be used to develop predictive models to personalize supportive care for HNC patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: SCNs decrease over time, but a subgroup of patients still presents with SCNs 2 years after treatment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of cancer survivorship-Research and practice
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 10-Feb-2025

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Supportive care needs among head and neck cancer patients in the recovery phase from 6 months to 2 years after treatment: which factors matter?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this