OP069: Changes quality of life in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients – Overall trajectory, related factors and sub-patterns of QOL during the first 12-month of diagnosis

Abstract

The diagnosis of oral cavity cancers and treatments/disease related distress from the oral–facial areas may influence patients’ quality of life (QOL). The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the changes of symptoms (physical distress), psychological distress (depression and anxiety) and QOL during the first 12 months of being diagnosed as oral cavity cancer, (2) identify factors related to overall QOL, and (3) identify QOL sub-patterns in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients in Taiwan. A 12-month prospective longitudinal study was conducted to assess the changes of symptom, psychological distress and QOL. Subjects were recruited from three medical centers in Northern Taiwan and were assessed on 6 time points (days before operation, 1, 2, 3, 6 12 months post surgery/T1–T6, respectively). The psychometrically validated Chinese version instruments were used, including (1) Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), (2) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), (3) University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL), and (4) Background Information Form. In addition to the descriptive statistics, the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) was applied to identify the overall QOL related factors. The latent class growth modeling was used to identify the potential QOL sub-patterns. Data were collected after Institute Review Board (IRB) approval and patients’ consents. A total of 150 eligible subjects completed the 12 months assessments. Overall, patients reported moderate levels of QOL with the worst QOL during the first three months post-surgery (T2–T4). However, some delayed problems were also reported, including dry mouth, swallowing problem, chewing dysfunction and employment concern. Patients having reconstruction surgery, more advanced cancer stage, higher levels of depression and symptom severity, without job, and having lower education level were found to have lower levels of QOL across the time. QOL sub-patterns were also identified. Results of the study provide the evidence-based information to health care professionals to better help oral cavity cancer patients with timely interventions. Future studies should also test the effects of these interventions on improving patients’ QOL.