Concerns and coping strategies in patients with oral cancer: A pilot study

A quality of life outcome monitoring system for head and neck cancer and reconstructive surgery requires tools that are not only valid but reliably address not only the general health and social factors but also is specific for head and neck cancer. Keeping these in mind Trivandrum Quality of Life Study (TQOLS) was conceived. The pilot study was carried out between April and July 1998. The domains included were psychosocial, sexual, coping, concerns, general health and treatment related factors beside demographic details. The results of this pilot study are reported here. Communication with family, friends and medical persons was most commonly affected followed by withdrawal from social activities. However, most of the patients continued family and religious activity. Similarly turning to religion was the most common coping mechanism among 80% of the patients. In majority of patients this was the first coping mechanism. As the numbers of patients in the present study are limited the results cannot be generalized. However, we presume that they will act as a guide for the main study