Evaluation of Sleep Quality in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Throughout Treatment Course

Overview

This study examines how head and neck cancer treatment affects quality of sleep over time and factors that contribute to sleep quality. Sleep plays a critical role in healing and quality of life, and recent studies investigating sleep disorders in head and neck cancer patients reveal sleep quality is a major determinant of post-treatment outcomes. Information from this study may help researchers better understand how treatment impacts sleep quality so that they can make changes that may help improve patient sleep quality.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective
  • Study Primary Completion Date: December 1, 2025

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To describe the five (5) components of sleep quality in head and neck patients under different stages of post-op treatment and different environment. II. To evaluate the effect of surgery, treatment and environment on the five (5) components of sleep quality in head and neck cancer patients. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To evaluate the association between the five (5) components of sleep quality and comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (STOP-BANG and Epworth Sleeping Scale) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 [PHQ-2]), under different stages of post-op treatment and different environment. II. To evaluate the association between Fitbit actigraphy data (i.e. the 5th component of sleep quality) and the first 4 components of sleep quality for inpatients. III. To compare the inpatient versus the outpatient responses on sleep hygiene at different time points of measurement. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess whether survey results warrant additional counseling or patient education. OUTLINE: COHORT 1-TP1: Patients complete surveys over 20 minutes on post-op day 3 and on day of discharge (or within 1 week). COHORT 1-TP2: Patients complete surveys over 15 minutes at all regularly scheduled follow-up appointments (approximately 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months). COHORT 2: Patients complete surveys over 15 minutes once.

Interventions

  • Other: Survey Administration
    • Complete survey

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Observational (survey)
    • COHORT 1-TP1: Patients complete surveys over 20 minutes on post-op day 3 and on day of discharge (or within 1 week). COHORT 1-TP2: Patients complete surveys over 15 minutes at all regularly scheduled follow-up appointments (approximately 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months). COHORT 2: Patients complete surveys over 15 minutes once.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Time in bed
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
    • The time difference between time to get into bed and time to get up, measured in minutes
  • Sleep latency
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
    • How long it takes to sleep, measured in minutes.
  • Number of nighttime awakening
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
  • Sleep maintenance latency
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
    • How long it takes to fall back to sleep, measured in minutes.
  • Per-patient average score on Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
  • Sleep hygiene
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
  • Barriers to sleep quality
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
  • Per-patient sum of scores on Epworth Sleepiness Scale
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
  • Per-patient sum of positive responses on STOP-BANG
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months
  • Per-patient sum of scores on Patient Health Questionnaire-2
    • Time Frame: Up to study completion; approximately 12 months

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Males and females – Adult at least 18 years old – Capable of giving informed consent – Diagnosed with head and neck cancer (previously untreated, any stage) – Treatment plan involves surgery – Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study – English-speaking Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-English speaking – Pre-existing sleep disorder defined below: – Obstructive sleep apnea – Insomnia – Narcolepsy – Restless leg syndrome – Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Thomas Jefferson University
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor

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