Quality of life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receivied Radiotherapy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) in head and neck cancer patients who received radiotherapy in different time points i.e. 1 week before radiotherapy, last week of radiotherapy and 6 weeks after receiving radiotherapy. The subjects consisted of 46 head and neck cancer patients who received the first-course radiotherapy at Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine , Chiang Mai University during July 2014 to December 2014. Data were collected by interview. All subjects were assigned to answer questionnaires which consisted of demographic data and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Head and Neck Cancer (FACT-H&N). Descriptive statistics, One-way repeated measure ANOVA and Scheffe' were used to analyze the study data. The mean scores of overall QoL at the last week of radiotherapy and 6 weeks after receiving radiotherapy were significantly lower than pre-treatment ( P< .001); however, the mean scores for overall QoL at the last week of radiotherapy and 6 weeks after receiving radiotherapy were not significantly different. The mean scores for physical well-being and head and neck specific concerns at the last week of radiotherapy and 6 weeks after receiving radiotherapy were significantly lower than pre-treatment ( P< .001); however, the mean scores for physical well-being and head and neck specific concerns at the last week of radiotherapy and 6 weeks after receiving radiotherapy were not significantly different. The mean scores for social/family well-being, emotional well-being and functional well-being did not different significantly. Therefore, the role of nurse should develop self-care and oral-care program in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy to relieve the side effect of radiotherapy and improve their quality of life.