Developing the social distress scale for head and neck cancer outpatients in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the factor structure, internal consistency, and concurrent and discriminant validity of a scale used to measure social distress in Japanese head and neck cancer outpatients with facial disfigurement.


METHODS
The sample included 225 Japanese outpatients with head and neck cancer, including 129 patients with facial disfigurement. Participants' level of social distress was assessed through our scale, the European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer questionnaire (EORTC) QLQ-H&N35 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS).


RESULTS
Factor analyses confirmed the structure of two subscales of the social distress scale. Social distress was significantly correlated with the social contact subscale of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 and the HADS.


CONCLUSIONS
Results demonstrated preliminary reliability and validity of the social distress scale. This scale may extend social adjustment research by revealing its determinants and effects for head and neck cancer with facial disfigurement in Japan.
Ando Laboratory, Advanced Research Centers, Keio University, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Minako
M
Deno
Showa University School of Dentistry, Oota-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Mie
M
Tashiro
Division of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Mitsunori
M
Miyashita
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Takahiro
T
Asakage
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Showa University School of Dentistry, Oota-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Koji
K
Takahashi
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Kanto Medical Center NTT EC, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Kenich
K
Saito
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yasunobu
Y
Busujima
Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Dentistry and Orthodontics, University of Tokyo Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshiyuki
Y
Mori
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation Ebara Hospital, Oota-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Hiroto
H
Saito
Department of Oral Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation Toshima Hospital, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yuji
Y
Ichikawa
D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*