The Effect of Mental Support during Pre-treatment and Follow-up in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Who Visited for Having Standard Treatment Plan at Tumor Clinic, Siriraj Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The Effect of  Mental  Support  during  Pre-treatment  and  Follow-up  in  Patients with Head and Neck Cancer who visited for having standard treatment plan at Tumor Clinic, Siriraj Hospital, for identify the cause of treatment rejection and levels of stress in each patient were assessed before and after the visits.

Methods: To study patients with head and neck cancer, aged between 18-75 years at the Tumor Clinic, who have the primary treatment plan amount 120 cases that compared to control group from database of the Tumor Clinic in 2014 amount 120 cases. In the study group, patients were interviewed by using the Mental Support during Pre-treatment and Follow-up specifically designed questionnaires, stress assessment form and Rosenberg's self-esteem assessment form. The statistics were analyzed by Student’s t-test, Chi-Square test and McNemar’s test.           

Results: The study group found that 109 (90.8%) of patients received treatment, meanwhile 11 (9.2%) of patients did not receive treatment, the control group found that 102 (85%) of patients received treatment, meanwhile 18 (15%) of patients did not receive treatment. By comparing from 2 group, the study found that the number of patients, who received the treatment was difference but no statistically significant. The reasons for not receiving the treatment were fear of the treatment 46%, including, poor physical condition 20%, chosen an alternative medicine 20%, problem of financial 7% and no caregiver during the treatment 7%.  There was difference but no  statistically significant between the assessment of stress of patients before and after the examination. The self-esteem was no difference.           

Conclusion: The Effect of Mental Support during Pre-treatment and Follow-up result in the patients, who received the treatment was difference but no statistically significant. However, the process of patient follow-up induces the patients who receive care for a better quality of life. Therefore, periodical follow-up made to know and help the patients to resolve the problem for them. This will result in patients receiving treatment as planned.