ArticleJournal of medical radiation sciences2023
'Having the mask on didn't worry me until … they clamped my head down so I wouldn't move': A qualitative study exploring anxiety in patients with head and neck cancer during radiation therapy.
Article in Journal of medical radiation sciences, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- PTSD in Patients Who Undergo Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of music therapy and relaxation visualization intervention on mask anxiety in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy-a randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Trial
- Maskless head and neck radiotherapy using surface-guided radiation therapy: initial clinical feasibility of real-time setup, intrafraction monitoring, and automatic beam-hold.Journal of applied clinical medical physics · 2026Article
- The Association Between Social Support and Psychosomatic Status in Cancer Patients During Mid-Course Radiotherapy: The Chain Mediating Roles of Psychological Capital and Coping Styles.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The Contemporary Role of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Radiation Oncology: A Review.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2026Review
- Simulation and optimization of treatment schedule for multi-gantry heavy ion therapy.Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2026Article
- Healing Beams: Radiation and Radiotherapy in Novels, Poems, Music, Film, Painting.Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2026Review
- Feasibility of transitioning to marker-less immobilisation using optical surface guidance in head and neck cancer treatment: a study at territory state cancer centre in a developing country.Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2026Article
- Development and validation of a novel patient-specific 3D-printed head and neck immobilization device for radiotherapy.Physics and imaging in radiation oncology · 2026Article
- The Burden of Treatment: Experiences of Patients Who Have Undergone Radiotherapy and Proton Beam Therapy.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Open or closed: Experience of head and neck radiotherapy masks - A mixed-methods study.Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2025Article
- Patient Education Materials for Immobilisation Masks in Radiation Therapy for Adult Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2024Article
- Continuing Professional Development - Radiation Therapy.Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2024Article
- Situational anxiety in head and neck cancer: Rates, patterns and clinical management interventions in a regional cancer setting.Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2024Article
- Mask-related anxiety and distress during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMore than 20% of patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer report anxiety specifically related to the immobilisation mask, a tight-fighting mask patients are required to wear for the duration of each treatment session. However, limited research has investigated this from the patient perspective. The aim of this study was to better understand patient experiences of mask anxiety during head and neck cancer radiation therapy and to explore patient attitudes toward potential strategies that may reduce mask anxiety during this treatment.
methodsFive patients with head and neck cancer, who had self-reported mask anxiety during radiation therapy, participated in semi-structured, qualitative interviews exploring their experiences of anxiety and suggestions for reducing anxiety. A codebook thematic analysis was conducted.
resultsSix main themes were identified: (1) triggers of anxiety; (2) adjusting to radiation therapy; (3) education about the mask; (4) coping; (5) motivation and (6) improving the patient experience.
conclusionFindings from these interviews provide valuable insight into how and when healthcare providers may be able to assist patients to manage mask anxiety. Recommendations include increased communication from health care providers; delivery of visual information to improve patient preparedness; exposure/opportunities to interact with the masks prior to treatment commencing and increased control of music/soundtrack selection. However, a limitation of this study is the small sample size and further research is warranted.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.