Swallowing function, body image and uncertainty in illness after reconstruction in oral cancer survivors

Chen-Chan Kuo , Shiu-Yu C. Katie Lee , Chun-Ta Liao
{"title":"Swallowing function, body image and uncertainty in illness after reconstruction in oral cancer survivors","authors":"Chen-Chan Kuo ,&nbsp;Shiu-Yu C. Katie Lee ,&nbsp;Chun-Ta Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100734","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Swallowing and body image are the main concerns after reconstruction for oral cancer. Perceiving uncertainty or an unpredictable future is a significant psychosocial stressor in cancer survivors. This study aimed to explore swallowing function, body image, and uncertainty after the reconstruction for oral cancer, and to examine their associations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A consecutive sample of 155 oral cancer adults (147 males and 8 females), with or without adjuvants, and surviving 3–30 months after primary microvascular free flaps, were included. The main outcomes were assessed by the Body Image Scale, EORTC QLQ-HN 35, and Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants reported moderate disturbance in appearance, body as a whole, and sexual attraction, and a moderate-to-low level of EORTC swallowing, speech, and social problems. Less than 20 % have pursued cosmetic surgeries after reconstruction. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, poor body image (<em>β</em> = .318), poor speech (<em>β</em> = .198), lower household incomes (<em>β</em> = -.153), and farmers v.s. counterparts were more likely to have higher uncertainty in illness (Adj.R<sup>2</sup> = .347).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Along with body image disturbance and swallowing problems, financial burden or work-related stress are significant risk factors for higher uncertainty in illness. Providing supportive care to cope with body image disturbances, swallowing and speech problems, and to improve work or financial status are warranted to help oral cancer survivors to cope with uncertainty in illness after free flaps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100734"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Oral Oncology Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772906025000226","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Swallowing and body image are the main concerns after reconstruction for oral cancer. Perceiving uncertainty or an unpredictable future is a significant psychosocial stressor in cancer survivors. This study aimed to explore swallowing function, body image, and uncertainty after the reconstruction for oral cancer, and to examine their associations.

Methods

A consecutive sample of 155 oral cancer adults (147 males and 8 females), with or without adjuvants, and surviving 3–30 months after primary microvascular free flaps, were included. The main outcomes were assessed by the Body Image Scale, EORTC QLQ-HN 35, and Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale.

Results

Participants reported moderate disturbance in appearance, body as a whole, and sexual attraction, and a moderate-to-low level of EORTC swallowing, speech, and social problems. Less than 20 % have pursued cosmetic surgeries after reconstruction. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, poor body image (β = .318), poor speech (β = .198), lower household incomes (β = -.153), and farmers v.s. counterparts were more likely to have higher uncertainty in illness (Adj.R2 = .347).

Conclusions

Along with body image disturbance and swallowing problems, financial burden or work-related stress are significant risk factors for higher uncertainty in illness. Providing supportive care to cope with body image disturbances, swallowing and speech problems, and to improve work or financial status are warranted to help oral cancer survivors to cope with uncertainty in illness after free flaps.
口腔癌幸存者重建后的吞咽功能、身体形象和疾病的不确定性
口腔癌重建后,吞咽和身体形象是主要关注的问题。对癌症幸存者来说,感知不确定性或不可预测的未来是一个重要的社会心理压力源。本研究旨在探讨口腔癌重建后的吞咽功能、身体形象和不确定性,并探讨它们之间的关系。方法155例成年口腔癌患者(男性147例,女性8例),接受或不接受佐剂治疗,术后存活3-30个月。主要结果采用身体形象量表、EORTC qlq - hn35和michels疾病不确定性量表进行评估。结果研究对象在外观、身体整体和性吸引力方面存在中度障碍,在吞咽、言语和社交方面存在中低程度的EORTC问题。不到20%的人在重建后进行了整容手术。在调整了人口统计学和临床因素后,较差的身体形象(β = .318)、较差的语言(β = .198)、较低的家庭收入(β = -.153)和农民对疾病的不确定性更高(Adj.R2 = .347)。结论身体形象障碍、吞咽问题、经济负担、工作压力是患病不确定性高的重要危险因素。提供支持性护理,以应对身体形象障碍、吞咽和言语问题,以及改善工作或经济状况,以帮助口腔癌幸存者应对游离皮瓣后疾病的不确定性。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
CiteScore
0.20
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信