Supportive care needs among head and neck cancer patients in the recovery phase from 6 months to 2 years after treatment: which factors matter?

PURPOSE

To investigate which demographic, personal, clinical, physical, psychological, social, lifestyle, and cancer-related quality of life (QoL) factors are associated with (changes in) supportive care needs (SCNs) from 6 months to 2 years after treatment in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

METHODS

Data from the prospective NETherlands QUality of life and BIomedical Cohort (NET-QUBIC) study among HNC patients treated with curative intent was used. SCNs were measured using the Supportive Care Needs Survey 34-item Short-Form (SCNS-SF34) (6 months, 1 and 2 years after treatment) and the 11-item HNC-specific module (SCNS-HNC) (2 years). Multivariable linear mixed model analyses and linear regression analyses were used to study factors associated with changes in SCNs over time (SCNS-SF34) and the level of SCNs at 2 years follow-up (SCNS-SF34 and SCNS-HNC).

RESULTS

Data from 483 patients was used. SCNs in the physical and daily living (PDL), psychological (PSY), and health system, information, and patient support (HSIPS) domains decreased significantly over time. At 2 years follow-up, the highest SCNs were reported regarding lack of energy/tiredness (10.8%). Changes in SCNs and the absolute level of SCNs at 2 years were associated with personal and clinical factors and post-treatment (6 months) with psychological, lifestyle, and cancer-related QoL factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Personal, clinical, psychological, lifestyle, and cancer-related QoL factors were associated with SCNs. These results can be used to develop predictive models to personalize supportive care for HNC patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

SCNs decrease over time, but a subgroup of patients still presents with SCNs 2 years after treatment.