BACKGROUND: Evidence that social support influences health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in oncologic patients could be particularly important for head and neck cancer because this disease can affect speech, eating, and facial aesthetics. METHODS: Multiple regression analyses were used in this prospective, observational study to determine the association between 394 patients' ratings of perceived post-treatment social support and HRQOL outcomes while controlling for possible confounding variables. RESULTS: Higher social support scores were significantly associated with higher scores in speech (p = .007), aesthetics (p = .015), social disruption (p = .045), and general mental health (p = .016) and with fewer depressive symptoms (p = .023) but not with general physical health (p = .191) or eating (p = .114). The magnitude of differences in the HRQOL outcomes for patients whose social support scores fell in the lowest and highest quartiles were clinically meaningful. CONCLUSIONS: Given the association between social support and HRQOL outcomes in this patient population, modification of perceived social support through clinical interventions could improve the survivorship of these patients.
BACKGROUND: Evidence that social support influences health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in oncologic patients could be particularly important for head and neck cancer because this disease can affect speech, eating, and facial aesthetics. METHODS: Multiple regression analyses were used in this prospective, observational study to determine the association between 394 patients' ratings of perceived post-treatment social support and HRQOL outcomes while controlling for possible confounding variables. RESULTS: Higher social support scores were significantly associated with higher scores in speech (p = .007), aesthetics (p = .015), social disruption (p = .045), and general mental health (p = .016) and with fewer depressive symptoms (p = .023) but not with general physical health (p = .191) or eating (p = .114). The magnitude of differences in the HRQOL outcomes for patients whose social support scores fell in the lowest and highest quartiles were clinically meaningful. CONCLUSIONS: Given the association between social support and HRQOL outcomes in this patient population, modification of perceived social support through clinical interventions could improve the survivorship of these patients.
Authors: Erin S Costanzo; Robert S Stawski; Carol D Ryff; Christopher L Coe; David M Almeida Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2012-01-23 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Dirk Heider; Katharina Kitze; Margrit Zieger; Steffi G Riedel-Heller; Matthias C Angermeyer Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2007-09-12 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Tanya Eadie; Mara Kapsner-Smith; Susan Bolt; Cara Sauder; Kathryn Yorkston; Carolyn Baylor Journal: Int J Lang Commun Disord Date: 2018-07-24 Impact factor: 3.020
Authors: Aru Panwar; Katherine Rieke; William J Burke; Harlan Sayles; William M Lydiatt Journal: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2018-11-01 Impact factor: 6.223