Body mass index and self-care behaviors related to oral health–related quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma within three months posttreatment

Purpose: Oral dysfunction is a common adverse event of treatment and may affect oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to identify factors associated with OHRQoL in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) within the first three months posttreatment. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined OSCC patients who received treatment from the outpatient radiation department of a single cancer center in northern Taiwan. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and patients were assessed using the Self-Care Behaviors Scale (SCB), Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) questionnaires. Results: Among 148 OSCC patients, 11.5% reported being underweight and 70.3% reported normal weight. The most common self-care factors associated with adverse effects were decreased appetite and fatigue. Psychological disability, functional limitation, and physical pain were the most negative OHRQoL factors. Poor OHRQoL was associated with more severe adverse effects after self-care behaviors, using feeding tubes during treatment, and having BMI less than 25, which together explained 33.5% of the variance in OHRQoL. Conclusions: The severity of adverse effects after self-care behaviors and using feeding tubes during treatment strongly influenced overall OHRQoL and seven specific dimensions of OHRQoL.