The impact of working on health-related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of working on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) after surgery. Methods: Eighty outpatients with HNC were assessed using working status and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck version 4 (FACT-H&N). T-test/one-way analysis of variance were used to describe the mean FACT-H&N score and categorical variables. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the contribution of working on HRQOL. Results: The mean age was 58.7 ± 11.9 years, 63.8% were male, and the mean time since surgery was 12.3 ± 6.3 months. In the univariate analysis, working patients were younger (p = 0.019), had smaller T classification (p = 0.016), and were less likely to undergo adjuvant therapy (p = 0.007) and reconstruction (p = 0.003). Multiple regression analysis showed that working was positively associated with FACT-H&N (B = 10.81; p = 0.021). Conclusions: Working after HNC surgery may improve patients’ well-being, both functionally and physically. Moreover, management of treatment side effects and provision of rehabilitation to enable patients to work are required to achieve possible better HRQOL in patients with HNC. Therefore, healthcare professionals should deliver appropriate information and support patients to work.