Table 1.
Characteristics of the participants.
| Variables | Participants (n = 58) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age, yr, mean ± SD (range) | 65.2 ± 10.7 (40–84) | |
| Gender, n (%) | Male | 47 (81.0) |
| Female | 11 (19.0) | |
| No. of family members, n (%) | 1 | 11 (19.0) |
| 2 | 23 (39.7) | |
| ≥ 3 | 24 (41.4) | |
| Marital status, n (%) | Married | 41 (70.7) |
| Single or widowed | 16 (27.6) | |
| Other | 1 (1.7) | |
| Employment status, n (%) | Employed | 25 (43.1) |
| Unemployed | 33 (56.9) | |
| Educational background, n (%) | Junior high school graduate | 11 (19.0) |
| High school graduate | 25 (43.1) | |
| College graduate | 17 (29.3) | |
| Others | 5 (8.6) | |
| Smoking, n (%) | Daily smoker | 22 (37.9) |
| Non-smoker | ||
| Ex-smoker | 24 (41.4) | |
| Never smoker | 12 (20.7) | |
| Drinking, n (%) | Drinker | 33 (56.9) |
| Social drinker | 5 (8.6) | |
| Past drinker | 8 (13.8) | |
| Non-drinker | 12 (20.7) | |
| Body mass index, kg/m2, n (%) | ≥ 25 (obese) | 12 (20.7) |
| 18.5–25.0 (normal) | 42 (72.4) | |
| < 18.5 (underweight) | 4 (6.9) | |
| Tumor site, n (%) | Lip or oral cavity | 2 (3.4) |
| Nasal cavity or accessory sinuses | 4 (6.9) | |
| Nasopharynx | 5 (8.6) | |
| Oropharynx | 11 (19.0) | |
| Hypopharynx | 15 (25.9) | |
| Larynx | 15 (25.9) | |
| Major salivary gland | 3 (5.2) | |
| Thyroid | 1 (1.7) | |
| External ear | 2 (3.4) | |
| Cancer stage, n (%) | II | 10 (17.2) |
| III | 9 (15.5) | |
| IV | 39 (67.2) | |
| Treatment category, n (%) | Radiotherapy | 8 (13.8) |
| Chemotherapy | 2 (3.4) | |
| Concurrent chemoradiotherapy | 48 (82.8) | |
| Radiation dose, Gy, mean ± SD | 61.1 ± 13.8 | |