Head and Neck Cancer, Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Pain, Head and neck cancer, depression, anxiety, health, catastrophizing
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of individual education and individual self-care measures on pain intensity, perceived health, mood and sleep during and after treatment with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of individual education and individual self-care measures on pain intensity, perceived health, mood and sleep during and after treatment with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEducation
Six education areas was offered: pain and pain physiology, pain medication, side effects and prevention of side effects, abuse of medications, sleep advice and advice on anxiety.
BEHAVIORALSelf Care
The following instructions on self-care for pain relief: apply ice or crushed ice in the oral cavity, lubricating and antiseptic mouth rinses, pain relieving gel, tongue movements and gaps exercises. Prevention of dryness in the mouth and throat; saliva stimulants and saliva substitute agents in different preparations, increased measures of good oral hygiene. Physical activities and regular rest once to several times per day. Sleep restriction and measures to treat sleep disorders.
OTHERTreatment as usual (TAU)
pharmacological treatment + advices
Sponsors
Linkoeping University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Masking description
All patients who referred to the Pain and Rehabilitation Centre at the University Hospital, asked about participation in the study. Of those who agreed to participate every second patient were distributed to the control group versus intervention group.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
All HNC patients who went through RT and were referred to the Pain and Rehabilitation Centre at the University Hospital (Linköping, Sweden) were invited to participate in the study which run from January 2015 - March 2017. \-
Exclusion criteria
Non Swedish speaking individuals, severe social and/or psychological disorders, severe cognitive conditions,other serious medical conditions. \-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Pain intensity | Change from baseline pain intensity at 20 weeks | Pain intensity the actual day using a numeric rating scale. |
| Change in Pain Interference | Change from baseline pain interference at 20 weeks | Pain interference the actual day using a numeric rating scale |
| Change in Perceived health index | Change from baseline EQ-5D index at 20 weeks | Perceived health according to the index based on five dimensions of European Quality of Life instrument (EQ-5D index) |
| Change in Perceived health scale | Change from baseline EQ-VAS at 20 weeks | Perceived health according to the visual analgue scale of European Quality of Life instrument (EQ-VAS) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in anxiety | Change from baseline anxiety at 20 weeks | Anxiety scale of Hospital and Depression Scale (HADS) |
| Change in catastrophizing | Change from baseline catastrophizing at 20 weeks | Total score of Pain Catastrophizing scale |
| Change in depression | Change from baseline depression at 20 weeks | Depression scale of Hospital and Depression Scale (HADS) |
Outcome results
None listed