Psychosocial factors and patient and healthcare delays in large (class T3–T4) oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal carcinomas

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2024年6月25日

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Markus Atula,
Timo Atula,
Katri Aro,
Heikki Irjala,
Elina Halme,
Anna Jouppila-Mättö,
Petri Koivunen,
Tommy Wilkman,
Antti Mäkitie,
Marko Elovainio,
Laura Pulkki-Råback

摘要

Background

Psychosocial factors and socioeconomic status have been associated with incidence, survival, and quality of life among patients with head and neck cancer. We investigated the association between different psychosocial factors, socioeconomic status, and patient delays in T3–T4 oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer.

Patients and methods

We conducted a nationwide prospective questionnaire-based study (n = 203) over a 3-year period.

Results

We found no association between psychosocial factors (depression, social isolation, loneliness, and cynical hostility) and patient delay. Depression was three times more common among head and neck cancer patients compared with the general Finnish population. Head and neck cancer patients had lower educational levels and employment status, and were more often current smokers and heavy drinkers.

Conclusions

Although we found no association between patient delay and psychosocial factors, patients diagnosed with a large head and neck cancer appeared to have a lower socioeconomic status and higher risk for developing depression, which should be considered in clinical practice.