Well-being and quality of life among oral cancer patients - Psychological vulnerability and coping responses upon entering initial treatment.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the psychological constitution and potential coping mechanisms of oral cancer patients when they enter initial treatment. This study aimed at 1) establishing a feasible study protocol and 2) implementing it to examine patients' coping and psychological responses during the initial treatment phase in the hospital. METHODS: In three consecutive feasibility phases a study procedure including measurement time points and instrumentation as well as a patient recruitment strategy was developed. To assess patients' responses, the following qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (questionnaires) measures were applied: WOC-CA, briefCOPE, HADS, EORTCQlQC30- H&N35 and SAM/POMS. RESULTS: Results revealed a highly burdened and distressed patient group that had not yet developed clear coping strategies. Further, one third of examined patients showed severe levels of anxiety and depression, indicating a high vulnerability to develop psychological disorders. CONCLUSION: At this early stage of oral cancer treatment, potential psychosocial interventions should prioritize addressing anxiety and depression to enable patients to develop functional coping strategies later on.