Introduction: Despite high distress the majority of head and neck cancer patients does not use any psycho-oncological counselling or psychotherapeutic support. Additionally, patients with head and neck cancer have an increased risk of not returning to work compared to other cancer patients. Therefore, we have developed a group intervention program which aims at improving work ability in patients with head and neck cancer as well as their quality of life, self-efficacy and psychological well-being.

Material And Methods: In a randomized controlled trial head and neck cancer patients either receive a group intervention or socio-legal counselling. Male head and neck cancer patients with elevated levels of psychological and work-related distress are included. The group intervention consists of eight sessions. Groups are led by both a psychotherapist and a former head and neck cancer patient (peer). Feasibility and acceptability of the group intervention were tested by means of a pilot group. Each session was evaluated by pilot group participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to assess relevance of content and practicability.

Results: 113 patients were personally addressed, of which four patients participated in the pilot group. Patients reported that the intervention fit very well with their daily life and expressed satisfaction with it. Three patients emphasized the importance of the peer.

Discussion: The presence of the peer as identification figure seems to be of crucial importance. To increase recruitment numbers inclusion criteria will be modified and participation costs will be reduced.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-0829-6885DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

head neck
28
neck cancer
24
group intervention
20
cancer patients
16
patients head
12
pilot group
12
patients
11
group
8
work ability
8
ability patients
8

Similar Publications

Background: The detection rate of oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCCs) varies among studies. The mutational landscape of SNSCCs remains poorly investigated.

Methods: We investigated the prevalence and prognostic significance of HPV infections based on p16 protein expression, HPV-DNA detection, and E6/E7 mRNA expression using immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Surgical Approaches to Pre-Auricular Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas Extending to the Temporal Bone.

Head Neck

January 2025

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland Skull Base Unit, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Standardized surgical approaches to advanced pre-auricular cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are lacking.

Methods: Fifty-four patients who underwent lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) for pre-auricular cSCC were grouped into "Levels" of increasing disease spread. Surgical approaches to achieve negative-margin resection were designed for each Level and replicated on cadaveric specimens.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently increased payment for evaluation and management (E/M) visits, but did not apply these updates to post-operative global period visits. We investigated the resulting Medicare fee-for-service revenue loss for otolaryngologists. Using publicly available Medicare spending/utilization data, we estimated how much additional payment otolaryngologists would have received in 2023 if CMS had reimbursed global period visits at the same rates as other E/M visits.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a clinical entity defined by aberrant chloride (Cl) ion transport causing downstream effects on mucociliary clearance (MCC) in sinonasal epithelia. Inducible deficiencies in transepithelial Cl transport via CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has been theorized to be a driving process in recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients without CF. We have previously identified that brief exposures to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mammalian cells induces an acquired dysfunction of CFTR in vitro and in vivo.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the risk of hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy in patients taking histamine-2 receptor antagonists.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Multicenter, single database.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!