Differences in Supportive Care Needs Between Human Papillomavirus Positive and Human Papillomavirus Negative Oral Cancer Survivors

It is well established that the majority of oropharyngeal (oral) cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. These HPV+ oral cancers are marked by distinct demographic and behavioral characteristics compared to HPV- oral cancers, including younger age at diagnosis, lower rates of tobacco and alcohol use, higher rate of marijuana use and a history of oral sex or multiple sexual partners. These differences suggest potential differences in supportive care needs in oral cancer survivorship as well. To date, our knowledge of such needs is limited. However, understanding the supportive care needs of survivors of HPV related oral cancer is necessary for the determination, development and delivery of supportive care interventions. Participants were part of an online study of quality of life and supportive care needs in oral cancer. Oral cancer survivors who were less than 2 years from diagnosis and self-reported HPV testing at diagnosis (n = 58) completed the Survivor Unmet Needs Survey and an interest inventory of supportive care services. Mean age of participants was 54 years (SD= 10.8), 56% were female and 83% were married or living in a marriage-like relationship. Approximately 50% of oral cancer survivors identified as having HPV+ disease. HPV+ survivors were more likely to be male (p.05; mean = 4.2 (SD = 3.9), range = 1-12). However, HPV + survivors were more likely to want information specific to oral cancer risk factors, including HPV (p