Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40299080›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Survivorship therapy needs after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: surveying opportunities for growth (STRONG).

Alexis Larson, Yangruijue Ma, Zequn Sun, Janine Kingsbury, Katelyn O Stepan, Adil Akthar, Jochen Lorch, Bharat B Mittal, Poonam Yadav, Michelle L Mierzwa and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Alexis LarsonDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Ste LC- 178, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Yangruijue MaDepartment of Biostatistics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Zequn SunDepartment of Biostatistics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Janine KingsburyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Ste LC- 178, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Katelyn O StepanDepartment of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Adil AktharDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Ste LC- 178, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Jochen LorchDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Bharat B MittalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Ste LC- 178, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Poonam YadavDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Ste LC- 178, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Michelle L MierzwaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Leila J MadyDepartment of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Laila A GharzaiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, 251 East Huron Street, Ste LC- 178, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. Laila.Gharzai@northwestern.edu.

Funding

Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS)UL1TR001422 · NCATS · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI D'AQUILA, RICHARD · 2015 to 2023
$56.8M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001422
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPatients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are at risk for long-term side effects and require thorough survivorship care following completion of radiation therapy (RT). We aimed to identify survivorship interest and needs following RT.

methodsPatients with HNSCC who completed RT from Jan 2013 to April 2023 completed questions based on the five-domain Cancer Survivorship Framework (physical effects, psychosocial effects, cancer screening, chronic conditions, health promotion) and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (interest, knowledge, barriers).

resultsOf 1,123 patients, 317 participated (response rate 28%). Patients were 64% (n = 203) male with a mean age of 64 years (SD 12), with 66% (n = 209) finishing treatment > 2-years prior. 36% (n = 115) were interested in, 34% (n = 108) prioritized, and 28% (n = 88) had information related to survivorship. For survivorship domains, within physical effects, dry mouth (40%, n = 126) and trouble swallowing (24%, n = 75) were most bothersome. For psychosocial, 15% (n = 46) reported current depression (mean PHQ2 score ≥ 3) and 71% (n = 226) felt mental health needs were not addressed during treatment. Forty-two percent felt that diet, exercise, and smoking were not addressed (n = 134). Seventy-six percent (n = 240) understood the importance of cancer screening. Most patients wished to address survivorship topics in one long visit (45%, n = 142) and preferred in-person visits (60%, n = 190). Potential barriers included insurance coverage and scheduling concerns.

conclusionIn post-RT HNSCC survivors, survivorship interest and knowledge were limited. There is a need for education on survivorship. IMPLICATIONS: These findings provide a foundation for developing robust survivorship care programs that meet the diverse needs of this patient population.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsHead and Neck NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckSurvivorshipAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQuality of LifeSurveys and QuestionnairesHead and neck cancerRadiotherapySurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID40299080
PMCPMC12041175

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.