Distress and care needs in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients receiving surgery.
The purposes of this study were to examine postoperative levels of physical and psychological distress and, also, care needs and their related factors in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess symptom distress, psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and disease impact), care needs, and disease-/treatment-related characteristics in 112 hospitalized oral cavity cancer patients receiving surgery. The major results showed that patients had moderate-to-severe levels of distress and high overall care needs in five domains, with the highest level in the "physical and daily living" domain. Factors related to overall need and each unmet domain were identified. Overall care needs were predicted by anxiety, depression, cancer stage, performance status, and age. Among the three categories of psychological distress, anxiety contributed the most to predicting three domains of care needs. The results strongly suggest the need for systematic assessment and future longitudinal research.
Chen
Shu-Ching
SC
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Liao
Chun-Ta
CT
Lin
Chia-Chin
CC
Chang
Joseph Tung-Chien
JT
Lai
Yeur-Hur
YH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D020380:Needs Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology