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Psychosocial effects of a skin camouflage program in female survivors with head and neck cancer: A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Chen ShuChing,
Huang BingShen,
Lin ChienYu,
Fan KangHsing,
Chang Joseph TungChien,
Wu ShuChen,
Lai YeurHur
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.4308
Subject(s) - disfigurement , psychosocial , randomized controlled trial , anxiety , social anxiety , head and neck cancer , camouflage , skin cancer , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , physical therapy , cancer , psychiatry , surgery , zoology , biology
Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a skin camouflage program on disfigurement, self‐esteem, social interaction, and body image in female head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Methods A prospective, repeated‐measures, randomized controlled therapeutic intervention design was used. A total of 66 participants were randomly assigned to each group, with 32 in the experimental group and 34 in the control group. The experimental group received a 4‐session skin camouflage program, and the control group received routine care. Patients were assessed at 3 time points: baseline assessment (T0) and then at 1, 2, and 3 months (T1, T2, and T3, respectively) after participating in the skin camouflage program. Results Patients in the experimental group had significantly less facial disfigurement, depression, fear of social interaction, and anxiety regarding social interaction compared with those in the control group. Participants in both groups had significantly lower levels of facial disfigurement, depression, fear of social interaction, anxiety of social interaction, and body image at the final posttest assessment than at the pretest assessment. There were no differences between the groups and within groups with respect to self‐esteem. Conclusions The 3‐month skin camouflage program effectively improved facial disfigurement, fear of social interaction, anxiety of social interaction, and body image of female HNC survivors. A survival care plan should include a skin camouflage program to improve body image perception and decrease anxiety after treatment of HNC.