Depressive symptoms, smoking, drinking, and quality of life among head and neck cancer patients.
The authors examined the relationship between depressive symptoms, smoking, problem drinking, and quality of life among 973 head and neck cancer patients who were surveyed and had their charts audited. Forty-six percent screened positive for depressive symptoms, 30% smoked, and 16% screened positive for problem drinking. Controlling for clinical and demographic variables, linear-regression analyses showed that depressive symptoms had a strong negative association with all 12 quality-of-life scales; smoking had a negative association on all but one of the quality-of-life scales; and problem drinking was not associated with any of the quality-of-life scales. Interventions targeting depression, smoking, and problem drinking need to be integrated into oncology clinics.
Duffy
Sonia A
SA
VA HSR and D Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (11H), P.O. Box 130170, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0170, USA. Sonia.Duffy@med.va.gov
Ronis
David L
DL
Valenstein
Marcia
M
Fowler
Karen E
KE
Lambert
Michael T
MT
Bishop
Carol
C
Terrell
Jeffrey E
JE
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans