Influence of social support on health-related quality of life outcomes in head and neck cancer.
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.
Karnell
Lucy Hynds
LH
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Christensen
Alan J
AJ
Rosenthal
Eben L
EL
Magnuson
J Scott
JS
Funk
Gerry F
GF
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires