Factors associated with healthcare professional's rating of disfigurement and self-perceived body image in female patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with self-perceived body image in female patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), and factors associated with healthcare professional's rating of disfigurement, as well as the correlation between patient and observer ratings. This cross-sectional study recruited 105 women with HNC at a large medical centre. Measures of facial disfigurement and body image, as well as demographic and clinical characteristics, were collected. Multivariate multiple linear regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with healthcare professional's rating of disfigurement and patient self-perceived body image. Disfigurement ratings by healthcare professionals were positively associated with patient self-perceived body image. Medical treatment, cancer stage, radiation dose and cancer site were significantly associated with disfigurement. Medical treatment was an important predictor of perceived body image. These findings indicate a moderate prevalence of disfigurement among women with HNCs. Patients with more disfigurement were more likely to have dissatisfaction with their body image. Nursing professionals need to carefully assess the appearance of women with HNC. Camouflage interventions can be used to help appropriately cope with the disfigurement, and to achieve improved satisfaction with their body image.

Factors influencing body image in posttreatment oral cavity cancer patients

“…Each item is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with a higher score indicating greater symptoms or distress about body image. This scale was translated into the Chinese language, and satisfactory psychometric properties were reported in previous studies of patients with OCC and other cancers . The Cronbach alpha for our BIS data was 0.91 (excellent).…”

“…The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines recommend appropriate surgical procedures and/or radiation therapy (RT) based on cancer site, stage, and pathologic findings . However, surgical resection can cause anatomical damage or alterations, and RT can cause dermatitis on the face and neck, both of which alter body image . These problems may influence a patient's self‐presentation, interpersonal relationships, and social function …”

Body image distress in head and neck cancer patients: what are we looking at?

“…This may be more related to fear or expectations than existing body image problems. If only BIS outcomes are compared, comparable levels of body image distress were found [36,37]. In a study among HNC patients, for instance, < 15% had a BIS score higher than 9 [36], and in a study among female HNC patients, the mean overall BIS score was 4.50 [37].…”

A Systematic Review of Patient‐Reported Outcome Measures Assessing Body Image Disturbance in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

“…[16][17][18][19] Because BID is a critical psychosocial issue for patients with HNC, there has been a proliferation of studies addressing the topic in recent years. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] These studies have contributed to an improved conceptual framework for understanding BID in patients with HNC, reported on the changes in the severity of BID over time, described risk factors for BID, and characterized different treatment strategies. However, the volume of recent studies, differences in study design, varied patient populations, and heterogeneity of BID assessment tools have made understanding BID in patients with HNC challenging.…”