title: Psychosocial adjustment in patients surgically treated for laryngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the psychosocial adjustment in 62 patients surgically treated for cancer of the head and neck. Study design and setting Forty-one patients were grouped as having had radical surgery (total laryngectomy) and 21 as having had functional surgery (horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy or partial vertical surgery). The Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report (PAIS-SR) was used for the evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between groups when global adjustment or domain adjustment was compared. Patients did not consider the permanent stoma and voice loss to be the most important determinant of quality of life. Work and family relationship were the domains with poorest adjustment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social and medical support are important factors in improving patients' self-confidence and satisfaction, playing an important role in recovering useful phonation, psychological adjustment, and global quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information collected in this way may facilitate improved rehabilitation and thus better quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Dr Peset. mferrer@comu.es
authors.forename: María José Ferrer
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Enrique Estellés
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ferriol
authors.forename: Fernando Guallart
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Doménech
authors.forename: Marina Carrasco
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Llatas
authors.forename: María Morales
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Suárez-Varela
authors.forename: Ramón López
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal / Q000523:psychology