Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: April 20, 2018

Head and Neck Cancer Patients' Health Literacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lady Paola Aristizabal Arboleda¹, Matheus de Abreu¹, Andres Pinto²

¹Graduate Program of A.C.Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil.

|January 5, 2026

Abstract

Background:

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is rising globally and linked to poor clinical outcomes. Health Literacy (HL) could potentially have a role throughout the HNC pathway.

Methods:

Following PRISMA, this review assessed HL impact in HNC. Five databases and gray literature were searched for observational studies. Descriptive analysis and proportional meta-analyses were performed.

Results:

Of the 70 studies, 11 met the inclusion criteria (2153 HNC patients), mostly from the USA (n = 7). The Brief Health Literacy Screen was the most used tool (n = 6). The post-treatment phase and quality of life (QoL) were the main outcomes studied. Inadequate HL (11.9%-47%) was more common among men, laryngeal cancer, and advanced HNC, reducing post-treatment adherence and delaying postoperative radiotherapy. Adequate HL was associated with higher education, better QoL, better health-promoting lifestyle, and shorter time to diagnosis.

Conclusions:

HL influences diagnostic timelines, overall QoL, and post-treatment phase. However, its role in prevention, screening, and survival remains understudied.

Keywords:

head and neck cancer health education health literacy meta‐analysis systematic review

More Related Videos

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults

Published on: February 2, 2020

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment

Published on: April 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Health Literacy

Health Literacy

Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative...

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...

Cancer Prevention

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...

Cancer Therapies

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Management of oral stomatitis associated with BRAFi-MEKi therapy using intralesional corticosteroid and local anesthetic: a case report.

Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil)·2026

Meaningful Community Engagement-The Foundations of Global Oral Health Research.

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology·2026

Artificial intelligence for the detection and diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial lesions: evidence, limitations, and future directions.

Brazilian oral research·2026

EffiSegNet: Advances in Automated Segmentation of Actinic Cheilitis and Lip Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Clinical Photographs.

Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology·2026

Cultural Practices and Oral Cancer Risk in South America: An Evidence- and Experience-Based Position Paper.

Oral diseases·2026

Clinical profile and pattern of second primary tumors in HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer.

Revista brasileira de epidemiologia = Brazilian journal of epidemiology·2026

See all related articles