Perioperative assessment of psychological state and quality of life of head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgery

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2009 Feb;38(2):151-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2008.11.007. Epub 2009 Jan 9.

Abstract

This study assessed psychological state and quality of life (QOL) in head and neck cancer patients during the perioperative period. Patients who had undergone primary surgery at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan were enrolled. After obtaining informed consent, three tests were administered: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess psychological state, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General (FACT-G) and Functional Assessment of Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) to assess QOL. Japanese language versions of all tests were administered. Tests were administered 1 day before surgery, 1 week after surgery, and 1 and 6 months after discharge. Test scores were analyzed, as were relationships between psychological state, QOL and clinical factors. Anxiety was greatest before surgery, while depression was greatest immediately after surgery. QOL in the somatic and specific domains also decreased immediately after surgery. QOL in most domains improved 1 month after discharge. This study offers important information regarding perioperative psychological state and QOL in head and neck cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anxiety / complications
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Cost of Illness
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perioperative Care
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Self-Assessment*
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / psychology