Effects of a swallowing exercise education program on dysphagia-specific health-related quality of life in oral cavity cancer patients post-treatment: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a swallowing exercise education program (SEEP) on swallowing ability, depression, and dysphagia-specific health-related quality of life (QOL) in oral cavity cancer (OCC) patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized controlled study with two groups using a pre- and post-repeated measures design. A total of 76 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 38) and a control group (n = 38).

Psychometric testing of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-caregiver Chinese version in cancer family caregivers in Taiwan.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to develop a Chinese version of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-caregiver (FCRI-c Chinese) and assess the psychometrics of this test in the family caregivers (FCs) of Taiwanese patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: An instrument testing study was conducted at a major medical center in Taiwan. Head and neck cancer patients and their major FCs were recruited as dyads from the radiation outpatient department.

Psychosocial effects of a skin camouflage program in female survivors with head and neck cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a skin camouflage program on disfigurement, self-esteem, social interaction, and body image in female head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.

Methods: A prospective, repeated-measures, randomized controlled therapeutic intervention design was used. A total of 66 participants were randomly assigned to each group, with 32 in the experimental group and 34 in the control group.

Fear of Cancer Recurrence and Its Impacts on Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Patients With Head and Neck Cancers.

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a major concern for family caregivers (FCs) caring for patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs).

Purpose: This study (a) investigated the FCR experience of HNC FCs, (b) compared the differences in the FCR levels of FCs while taking care of patients with different lengths of time since completing major treatments (posttreatment durations), and (c) examined the correlation between FCR and quality of life (QOL) in these FCs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the radiation outpatient department of a medical center in northern Taiwan.

Changes and predictors of radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with oral cavity cancer during active treatment.

Purpose: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) is the most debilitating side effect of radiation treatment in oral cavity cancer. The purpose of the study was to investigate change of prevalence of severe OM, OM-related symptoms, and predictors in oral cavity cancer patients during active treatment.

Methods And Sample: Longitudinal study design with repeated measures was used.

Unmet supportive care needs and characteristics of family caregivers of patients with oral cancer after surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with unmet supportive care needs in family caregivers of patients with oral cancer after surgery.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we recruited patient-family caregiver dyads from the otolaryngology head and neck surgery wards of a medical center in northern Taiwan. Patients were assessed using a set of structured questionnaires to measure symptom distress, sleep quality, and depression.

Supportive care needs in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to examine changes in physical symptom severity, functional status, supportive care needs, and related factors in oral cavity cancer patients during 6 months after beginning radiation therapy (RT) or concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CCRT).

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted involving oral cavity cancer patients from an RT clinic at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Patients were assessed for supportive care needs and physical symptoms at five time points: before the beginning of RT or CCRT and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after beginning RT or CCRT.

Orofacial pain and predictors in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving treatment.

Surgical and radiation therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may generate orofacial pain. The aims of this study were to (1) characterize the pain experienced by people with orofacial pain, and (2) determine the factors associated with changes in orofacial pain in OSCC patients during the postoperative and post-radiation therapy periods. The study had a prospective longitudinal design with consecutive sampling.

Psychometric testing of the Chinese-version cancer needs questionnaire short form head and neck cancer-specific version in oral cavity cancer patients.

Purpose: The purposes of this two-phase study were to (1) develop and examine the content validity and feasibility of the Chinese-version cancer needs questionnaire, short form, head and neck cancer-specific version (CNQ-SF-hn) (phase I), and (2) examine its psychometric characteristics as supported by reliability and construct validity (phase II) in oral cavity cancer patients in Taiwan.

Methods: Newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients (N = 206) were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and psychometric analyses.

Changes of symptoms and depression in oral cavity cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

The purposes of this study were to (1) examine changes in symptom severity and depression within 3 months of first undergoing radiation therapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), and (2) identify factors involved in changes in symptom severity in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients undergoing post-operative RT or CCRT. A prospective panel survey was conducted to assess changes in symptoms, depression, and disease- or treatment-related characteristics within 3 months of beginning RT or CCRT (pre-treatment and 1, 2, and 3 months from first receiving RT). A total of 76 eligible oral cavity cancer patients were recruited from the outpatient radiation department of a medical center in northern Taiwan.

Support needs of patients with oral cancer and burden to their family caregivers.

Oral cancer patients' supportive care needs during the postoperative period can impact their family caregivers' burden. The purposes of this study were to (1) examine patients' perceived levels of supportive care needs, (2) examine caregivers' perceived levels of caregiving burden, and (3) examine the predictive factors for caregivers' caregiving burden with newly diagnosed oral cancer patients during the postoperative period. A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted.

Unmet information needs and preferences in newly diagnosed and surgically treated oral cavity cancer patients.

Unlabelled: The purposes of this study were to examine and compare the levels of care information needs, information preferences, unmet information needs, and predictive factors between newly diagnosed and surgically treated oral cavity cancer patients. Patients were divided into two groups comprising: (a) diagnosed patients and (b) surgically treated patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess information needs about care, disease-/treatment-related characteristics, and physical performance function in 109 diagnosed and 113 surgically treated oral cavity cancer patients.

Distress and care needs in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients receiving surgery.

The purposes of this study were to examine postoperative levels of physical and psychological distress and, also, care needs and their related factors in newly diagnosed oral cavity cancer patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess symptom distress, psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and disease impact), care needs, and disease-/treatment-related characteristics in 112 hospitalized oral cavity cancer patients receiving surgery. The major results showed that patients had moderate-to-severe levels of distress and high overall care needs in five domains, with the highest level in the "physical and daily living" domain.

Symptom distress, catastrophic thinking, and hope in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

The purposes of this study were to explore symptom distress, catastrophic thinking (catastrophizing) and hope, and factors predicting hope in Taiwanese nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients within 3 years of receiving radiation therapy (RT). Instruments used were the modified Symptom Distress Scale, disease catastrophizing scale (modified from Coping Strategies Questionnaire), and Herth's Hope Index. Adult NPC patients (N = 115; 33 undergoing RT, 44 who completed RT within 1 year, and 38 who completed RT more than 1 year but less than 3 years) were recruited from an outpatient RT center in Northern Taiwan.

Linear accelerator-based radiosurgery in the management of skull base meningiomas.

From May 1994 to December 1999, 43 patients with meningiomas in the base of the skull underwent linear accelerator (LINAC)-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) at Chung Gung Memorial Hospital. SRS was performed as a primary treatment in 14 patients, and after resection in 29 patients. The mean tumor volume was 5.