Distress screening using distress thermometer in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and evaluation of causal factors predicting occurrence of distress.
BACKGROUND
Distress is commonly seen in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Causal factors of distress are multifactorial; which encompasses physical, psychological, spiritual, and existential factors with complex interrelationship among the factors.


METHODS
Thirty patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy were included in the study. Patients were screened for pain scores, distress scores, physical and psychological symptoms, and spiritual and emotional distress.


RESULTS
Significant increasing trend seen for pain score, distress score, and total number of symptoms during 2(nd) week, 4(th) week, and on completion of radiotherapy treatment (all P's < 0.001) compared to pretreatment. Those who had chemotherapy (CT) along with radiation had significantly greater pain score (t = 5.54, P = 0.03) and distress score (t = 3.9, P = 0.05) at 2 weeks into radiotherapy compared to those who did not receive CT. There was significantly higher grade of skin toxicity in those with spiritual distress (Somers' d = 0.36, P = 0.02) and higher grade of mucositis in those with existential distress (d = 0.34, P = 0.02) at 4 weeks into radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive correlation between distress score and pain score and occurrence of physical symptoms. Increasing trend seen for pain score, distress score, and total number of symptoms during 2(nd) week, 4(th) week, and completion of radiotherapy treatment compared to pretreatment. Increase in distress score in those with existential and spiritual distress.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shirley
S
Lewis
Naveen
N
Salins
Amrit
A
Kadam
Raghavendra
R
Rao
Distress; Head and neck cancer; Radiotherapy