Compliance to Head and Neck Radiotherapy in Our Patient Population
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) - Year 2017, Vol 16, Issue 4
Abstract
Background: The treatment of head and neck cancer is complex, costly, toxic and challenging particularly in this part of the world where majority of the patients are from rural background and lower socioeconomic status. Persistent patient compliance is crucial, unplanned treatment interruptions reduce cure rates. Treatment prolongation reduces local control and overall survival rates, making adherence to treatment a key factor in optimal outcome. The present study estimates the compliance rate in patients who underwent radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study comprising of 67 patients of head and neck cancer registered or referred to the tertiary care centre, RIMS, Ranchi during July ’14 to December ’16 were taken. The clinical and demographic data were fetched from ODRI: institutional oncology database. Results: A total of 67 patients were included in the study. The mean age of presentation was 50 years. 73 % of patients were males and 27 % were females. Mostly patients were nontribal (83.5 %) compared to 16.5 % of tribal patients. 98% of the patients were married and only 2% were unmarried. 24 (36 %) of study patients did not miss any treatment; 32 (48 %) patients missed 1 to 6 treatments; 4 (6%) patients missed 7 to 14 treatments, and 3 (4 %) patients missed more than 14 treatments. 3 (4 %) patients did not completed the treatment, while 1 (1.5%) patients did not started the treatment. Reasons for missed treatments were hospitalization and toxicity. Conclusion: Approximately 84% of the patients were compliant to cancer-directed therapy. Efforts are ongoing to further improve adherence in our population.
Authors and Affiliations
Anup Kumar MD, Rajanigandha Tudu MD, Tannu Kumari PhD, Susanta Kumar Sahoo MSc
Keywords
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- EP ID EP594901
- DOI 10.9790/0853-1604074852.
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