PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING AN ONCOLOGY CLINIC AFTERDEFINITIVE TREATMENT FOR MAXILLOFACIAL MALIGNANT NEOPLASIA

Although management of malignant tumours of the mouth and salivary gla nds generally involves joint consultation with radiotherapists in dedi cated oncology clinics, patients' preferences or psychological needs i n this environment have not been investigated prospectively, particula rly for those on long-term review after treatment. In this prospective study, therefore, psychometric data were collected from a series of 4 0 consecutive review patients by questionnaires completed on the day o f consultation. The following established psychometric tests were used : the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the General Health Que stionnaire. Patients' reactions to duration of consultation, advice gi ven, opportunity to ask questions, and number of staff present were al so investigated by a standard structured questionnaire. Forty-seven pe r cent of patients exhibited symptoms of psychiatric disturbance; 33% were anxious, and 15% were depressed, preoccupation with physical symp toms being the most frequent problem. Explanations of continuing physi cal symptoms were particularly highly valued because these were often wrongly interpreted by the patients as evidence of recurrence. No pati ent objected to the presence of students and only one to the presence of more than 10 members of staff. However, 18% requested one-to-one di scussion in addition.