The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Life of
Laryngectomized Patients

 Mirjana Petrović Lazić^1, Snežana Babac^1,2, Ivana Ilić Savić¹

 

¹University of Belgrade, Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia
²Clinical Hospital Center “Zvezdara”, Belgrade, Serbia

 

 SUMMARY

  

Introduction: Quality of life is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to changes in the daily routine, there was a change in the psychosocial functioning of individuals. Given that laryngectomized patients belong to a vulnerable group that requires psychological support after surgery, specific epidemiological measures during the COVID-19 pandemic could only further increase the fear and reluctance that is especially pronounced after surgery.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a link between the quality of life of laryngectomized patients and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method: The literature review was performed through the Google Scholar Advanced Search search engine and the Consortium of Libraries of Serbia for Unified Acqusition - KoBSON.
Results: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the emotional well-being of patients with head and neck cancer. These patients became even more anxious due to the high mortality from the COVID-19 viral infection, hospital occupancy and missed therapeutic examinations. The need for togetherness, impaired concentration and attention, irritability and fear that family members might suffer from a deadly disease were the most common behavioral problems identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion: The psychological burden associated with the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be overlooked, given the fact that laryngectomized patients have twice the risk of suicide compared to patients who have undergone other types of cancer. Assessing the quality of life in laryngectomized patients is very important because it enables the timely identification of mental disorders and suggests the necessary support measures.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, quality of life, patients with laryngectomy

 

Corresponding author:

Ivana Ilić Savić

e-mail: ivana.ilic558@gmail.com