Using an APP in Post Oral Cancer Surgery to Affect Patients' Needs and Quality of Life.

This study aimed to explore using an APP in post oral cancer surgery to affect patients' needs and quality of life. Methods Quasi-experimental Research Design used purposeful sampling from January 1 to December 31 of the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital oral maxillofacial surgery ward and the otolaryngology ward requirement met post-treatment oral cancer patients who agreed to participate. Self-administered structured questionnaires, including basic personal information, cancer needs table short version (CNQ-SF), head and neck cancer quality of life scale (EORTC QLQ-H&N35), were used to collect information. Results were statistically analyzed to understand the distribution of variables and their relationships. Scientific or Clinical Implication of the Expected Results Using an APP intervention in post-operative patients with oral cancer may be the better way to promote health and enhance one's quality of life.

The malignant tumor has been consecutively ranked as number one of the top ten causes of death over the past 33 years, and the incidence of an increase in oral cancer year by year. The average age of death was 55-57. With this average age compared to other cancer patients under 10 years of early life, it's necessary to care about the burden of disease from oral cancer. The main treatment of oral cancer is surgery and a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Patients often got severe treatment complications with varying degrees of physical functions and uncertainty due to poor cognition or less clarification in a complex course of treatment that affects medical decisions in the illness process. Both domestic and foreign research show that the majority of oral cancer patients expressed the need for and attention to health information. "Treatment information" was the most needed and important. When information needs are met, it can effectively reduce the anxiety and unease of unknown events. Relevant domestic and foreign research do not provide accessibility and convenience of health education for post-operative patients with oral cancer.

Patients were divided into two two groups. Control group was assessed with traditional routine healthcare and instruction. Experimental group was assessed with a mobile health application.

Patients in the control group were individually assessed by a traditional routine health care and instruction.

The Quality of Life scale (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core Module [EORTC QLQ-C30] and Head and Neck Module [QLQ-H&N35], or EORTC QLQ-H&N35) was used to represent patients' satisfaction with quality of life. The EORTC QLQ-H&N35 is a 30-item self-administered global health and quality of life questionnaire with 5 scales, including physical, role, cognitive, emotional and social functioning. In addition, the measuring items included the pain, swallowing, speech, taste/smell, eating, dry mouth, coughing, opening mouth and social contact and sexuality.

Care Needs Scale (the short-form Cancer Needs Questionnaire, CNQ-SF) was used to measure baseline postoperative care needs, with score 0 meaning no care need and score 100 meaning highest care need. CNQ-SF is a 32-item self-administered questionnaire to evaluate five domains of patient needs, including psychological, health information, physical and daily living, patient care and support, and interpersonal communication needs.

Science and Technology Acceptance Model scale was applied to evaluate patients' response to health IT. The scale measures subjects' intention, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. Effectiveness is determined by a panel of experts, including nursing experts, nursing information experts and medical information experts.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients were diagnosed with oral cancer and were the first-time receiving oral cancer surgery within 1 week. Conscious and able o communicate Patients agreed to participate in this study and had a smart phone. Exclusion Criteria: Patients without oral cancer Patients with oral cancer but had received oral cancer surgery before 1 week or more. Unconscious or unable to answer questions from questionnaire or APP Patients with cognitive impairment, dementia o intellectual disability.

Wang TF, Huang RC, Yang SC, Chou C, Chen LC. Evaluating the Effects of a Mobile Health App on Reducing Patient Care Needs and Improving Quality of Life After Oral Cancer Surgery: Quasiexperimental Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020 Jul 27;8(7):e18132. doi: 10.2196/18132.