Factors associated with quality of life among patients with a newly diagnosed oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.
Lucy P Andersen, Mary S Dietrich, Barbara A Murphy and 1 others
PMID 37611502WHAT IT FOUND
People newly diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer who had lower income, more anxiety or depression symptoms, or more advanced disease reported poorer quality of life before treatment.
Screen these factors early and connect patients to support.
Key findings
01Before treatment, the median global health-related quality of life score was 67.7 on a 100-point scale, and some participants scored below 20 on functioning subscales.
02Anxiety and depression were common before treatment: 35.7% scored 8 or higher for anxiety and 18.3% scored 8 or higher for depression, and both were inversely correlated with quality of life scores.
03Income, age, and tumor stage were linked to physical functioning before treatment, while the health literacy association with global quality of life was not significant after adjustment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample came from one cancer center in one area of the United States and was mostly white and male, so results may not transfer to other regions or racial groups. The study was descriptive and measured associations at one time point, so it cannot show that income, anxiety, depression, health literacy, or tumor stage caused quality of life differences. Thirteen participants did not complete the health literacy screen, and missing values were imputed. The adjusted global quality of life model was not statistically significant, so the overall set of factors did not clearly explain global quality of life. The sample included only stage II or greater and excluded recurrent cancer, other active cancer, cognitive impairment, and non-English speakers, so it may not represent all newly diagnosed oral or oropharyngeal cancer patients. Quality of life was self-reported, and the study did not measure treatment outcomes, speech, swallowing, pain, or functional recovery after therapy.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that health literacy independently predicts quality of life or that income, age, or tumor stage cause better quality of life. The health literacy association with global quality of life was not significant after adjustment, and this study only measured associations before treatment.