The role of psychological characteristics and quality of life in patients with head and neck tumors during treatment and rehabilitation

Introduction. Betterment of techniques and methods of treatment of oncological diseases promotes improved patient rehabilitation. Improvement of biopsychosocial status of these patients significantly depends on determination of rehabilitation potential. Due to increased survival of oncological patients, problems associated with the quality of life have become more urgent. Aim. To determine the possibility of using a non-specific questionnaire Short Form-36 (SF-36) for evaluation of quality-of-life characteristics and rehabilitation potential of patients with malignant head and neck neoplasms during different schemes of radical radiation therapy. Materials and methods. The study included 68 patients with malignant head and neck neoplasms who underwent chemo / radiotherapy with accompanying symptomatic treatment and nutritional support between 2019 and 2021 (treatment group). In 32 (47.08 %) patients, the tumor was located in the larynx, in 8 (11.76 %) in the pharynx, in 6 (8.82 %) in the parotid gland, in 13 (19.11 %) in the oral cavity, in 9 (13.23 %) in the paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx. A course of radical photon therapy as monotherapy was administered to 59 (86.76 %) patients, a course of chemoradiation treatment to 9 (13.24 %) patients. Control group consisted of healthy people (n = 679) who at the time of questioning did not have a diagnosis of malignant neoplasms. Mean age of the participants was 64 years. Quality of life characteristics associated with rehabilitation potential were determined using a non-specific questionnaire for quality of life evaluation SF-36. Results. In patients of the treatment group, significant decrease in such quality-of-life characteristics as bodily pain and role-physical functioning was observed. In general, quality of life characteristics in this group were lower than in the control group. It was shown that patients with head and neck malignant neoplasms are prone to limiting social contacts which can be caused by their physical and emotional condition, and have significant pain syndrome. Role functioning is based on the effect of physical condition on daily role performance (work, daily chores) (р = 0.001). On the other hand, every characteristic reflecting various aspects of quality of life of patients with malignant head and neck tumors such as pain intensity, role-physical functioning can be corrected using symptomatic rehabilitation medicine and psychological support. Conclusion. Data obtained using the SF-36 questionnaire can form a basis for early patient rehabilitation during in-hospital treatment. Th use of various quality of life questionnaires in oncological patients positively affects treatment outcomes. The identified deviations of quality-of-life characteristics from normal values in patients with malignant head and neck neoplasms can be considered psychotherapeutic targets for psychologists, treatment physicians, rehabilitation specialists forming an interdisciplinary team. Collection of information about the patient prior to outpatient appointment promotes improved communication between the patient and the doctor, increases awareness about patient needs after treatment in medical specialists, increases quality of medical care and implementation of personalized medicine principles.