Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Patients with a Newly Diagnosed Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Purpose: The objectives of this report were 1) to examine the quality of life (QOL) of patients with a newly diagnosed oral cavity or oropharyngeal (OCOP) cancer; and 2) to examine factors contributing to QOL before cancer treatment. Methods: The sample included 115 participants with a new diagnosis of OCOP cancer. Participants completed the demographic form, oral cancer disease and treatment form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Pearson correlations and linear regressions were used for data analysis. Results: Participants had a median global health related QOL score of 66.7 (interquartile range, IQR = 50.0, 83.4) with median scores for the subdomains being generally high (all >80 of possible 100). Anxiety and depression were significantly inversely correlated with all areas of EORTC QOL (r = - 0.48 to 0.78, all p <.001). Multivariable associations were strongest with the physical functioning domain (R = 0.56, p <.001), with younger age, higher income, Stage I/II cancer (compared to Stage III/IV) significant contributors to the multiple correlation (beta > +/- 0.20, p <.05). Conclusions: Health care providers should be attentive to OCOP cancer patients with older age, lower household income, advanced cancer stage, and presence of anxious and/or depressive symptoms for indicators of poor QOL. Clinicians should consider the benefit of: initiating supportive interventions before cancer treatment among OCOP cancer patients with poor QOL.