Abstract A29: Association of support group attendance with quality-of-life metrics in head and neck cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract Quality of life has emerged as an increasingly prominent metric of interest for those with head and neck cancer during the course of their recovery. Although many factors have been shown to affect quality of life, the effect of support group attendance has been limited and mixed in the head and neck cancer literature. There is still controversy with regard to the efficacy of support groups. This study aims to add to the literature by reporting the association of support group attendance on quality-of-life measures in head and neck cancer patients. Our findings will help with recommendations for implementing support groups into head and neck cancer care. This is a cross-sectional, survey-based study employing the University of Washington head and neck cancer quality-of-life questionnaire. This survey has been previously validated in the literature as an objective quality of life measurement tool for head and neck cancer patients. All study participants are head and neck cancer patients who have received treatment. Study participants were separated into two separate groups: 1) patients who have never attended support group in the past; 2) patients who have utilized support group. Survey scores are compared between the two groups via unpaired Mann-Whitney U test. Patients who attended support group (N=32) compared to those who have not (N=52) showed significantly greater quality-of-life median scores on appearance (support group median score = 75 vs. no support group median score = 50, U=513, p=0.02), activity (75 vs. 50, U=463, p=0.004), recreation (75 vs. 50, U=404, p<0.001), mood (75 vs. 50, U=310, p<0.001), anxiety (100 vs. 30, U=164, p<0.001), and overall sense of quality of life (80 vs. 60, U=365, p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for scores in pain, swallowing, chewing, speech, shoulder mobility, taste, or recent changes in subjective sense of quality of life. Our data suggest that support group attendance is associated with a higher quality of life specifically related to mental health and social well-being. There was no observable benefit in physical functional recovery with support group attendance. There appear to be psychosocial benefits from incorporating support groups into head and neck cancer rehabilitation. Citation Format: Kyohei Itamura, David Lam, Brian Cameron, Tamara Chambers, Niels Kokot, Dennis Maceri, Uttam Sinha, Mark Swanson, Brenda Villegas. Association of support group attendance with quality-of-life metrics in head and neck cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr A29.