Jehn P, Linsen SS, Zeller AN, Eckstein FM, Neuhaus MT, Gellrich NC, Krüskemper G, Lentge F, Spalthoff S, Korn P. Gender-specific differences concerning psychosocial aspects and functional impairments that influence quality of life in oral cancer treatment.
Support Care Cancer 2022;
30:4905-4915. [PMID:
35171323 DOI:
10.1007/s00520-022-06907-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Patients with oral cancer have gender-specific differences with respect to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial variables (PV). The aim of the present study was to evaluate HRQoL and PV outcomes in patients treated for oral squamous cell carcinoma.
METHODS
Data of 1234 patients were collected from a multicenter rehabilitation study of the German-Austrian-Swiss Cooperative Group on Tumours of the Maxillofacial Region (DÖSAK). Patient characteristics, oncological variables, post-treatment impairments, general quality of life (QoL), and PV (coping strategies, control beliefs, personal traits, perceived social support, depression, anxiety, and fear of tumor recurrence) were recorded.
RESULTS
After treatment, HRQoL was similar between genders concerning general QoL, but men experienced significantly more treatment-related functional impairments influencing HRQoL. PV revealed gender-specific coping strategies, with women reporting significantly more "depressive coping," "religiosity," "fatalistic externality," and higher "social burden." Owing to their religious coping strategies, fatalistic attitude, and perceived higher social integration, women demonstrated superior disease acceptance, despite higher depression, anxiety, and lower psychosocial resilience. Conversely, men reported more introverted personal traits and lower social integration.
CONCLUSION
Interventions during oral cancer treatment should address PV and have gender-specific elements to improve HRQoL after therapy.
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