Impact of Face Mask-Wearing on Quality of Life in Post-Surgical Oral Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Lan Romain, Silvestri Frédéric, Rhanoui Maryem, Bezier Cassandre, Fakhry Nicolas, Carrouel Florence, Mense Chloé
Primary Institution: Aix-Marseille Univ CNRS, ADES, Marseille, France
Hypothesis
Does wearing a mask improve the quality of life for patients who have undergone surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma?
Conclusion
Wearing a mask positively impacted the quality of life in oral cancer patients by providing psychological relief from disfigurement and social stigma.
Supporting Evidence
- Wearing a mask significantly improved quality of life scores from 2.00 to 1.66.
- Patients reported reduced social anxiety and improved self-perception while wearing masks.
- The study found high internal consistency in the questionnaire used (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.931).
- Patients with altered physical appearance benefited more from mask-wearing.
- Fear of others' perception decreased significantly with mask use.
Takeaway
Wearing a mask helped patients who had surgery for oral cancer feel better about themselves and less anxious about how others see them.
Methodology
This was a single-center, cross-sectional study where patients completed a questionnaire assessing the impact of mask-wearing on their quality of life.
Potential Biases
Recruitment biases related to local surgical and oncological practices may affect the findings.
Limitations
The small sample size limits the interpretation of results and may not be generalizable.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 69 years, with 63% male and 66% having altered physical appearance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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