Utilization of Psychosocial Oncology Services by Oral Cancer Patients: a Study Protocol
Marjana Ali1; Michelle Cwintal1; Jordan Gigliotti1; Justin Sanders2; Marc Martel1;Elham Emami1; Nicholas Makhoul1; Nour Karra1; Anita Brown-Johnson3; Agnihotram V.Ramanakuma4; Nathalie Gosselin5; Lionel Cailhol6; Amal Idrissi Janati1
1: Faculty of Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences; 2: Family Medicine and Palliative Care; 3: Division of Geriatrics & Department of Family Medicine; 4: Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, 缅北强奸 5: D茅partement de Psychologie; 6: D茅partement de psychiatrie, Universit茅 de Montr茅al
Oral cancer, a subcategory of head and neck cancer (HNC), poses unique challenges for patients such as psychological distress and reduced quality of life. In North America, oral cancers make up over half of HNC cases and deaths (2020) emphasizing a critical area of concern in cancer care. Patients with oral cancer face functional limitations, psychosocial distress, and a significant impact on their caregivers despite improvements in treatment modalities. National guidelines support routine screening for psychosocial distress throughout the cancer care trajectory, acknowledging the significance of holistic patient management in enhancing outcomes and quality of life. However, little is known about the utilization and success of these psychosocial oncology services (POS), especially for patients with oral cancer. Preliminary data shows an imbalance between the need for and availability of psychosocial providers. In Quebec, there are 2.25 full-time equivalents for every 1000 new cases of cancer (2017) which points to potential challenges in maintaining high-quality care. The purpose of this study is to investigate the referral rate of oral cancer patients and their caregivers to POS, the response rate to these referrals, and how these practices have changed in recent years. The research aims to provide a thorough overview of the current state of psychosocial distress management within this patient population by conducting a retrospective cross-sectional study using Real World Data from electronic health records of patients diagnosed with oral or maxillofacial cancers between 2016 and 2023. It will examine what influences a referral to POS, outline the services offered, and identify barriers to the best use of POS services using logistic regression analysis and descriptive statistics.