Health behaviors of head and neck cancer patients the first year after diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
This prospective, cohort study is the first to describe 5 health behaviors of head and neck cancer patients the first year after diagnosis.


METHODS
Patients (N = 283) were recruited in otolaryngology clinic waiting rooms and asked to complete written surveys. A medical record audit was also conducted. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine which variables were associated with the 5 health behaviors.


RESULTS
Half of the patients smoked and 25% were problem drinkers. Over half of the smokers and drinkers quit 1 year post-diagnosis. Smoking and problem drinking were highly associated and both were associated with lower body mass index (BMI) (p < .01). Moreover, physical activity and sleep were associated with each other (p < .01). Low SLEEP (Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale) scores were common and highly associated with depression (p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The health behaviors of head and neck cancer patients are interrelated, and assessing and treating these behaviors together may be beneficial.
VA HSR&D Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. sonia.duffy@va.gov
Sonia A
SA
Duffy
Mumtaz J
MJ
Khan
David L
DL
Ronis
Karen E
KE
Fowler
Stephen B
SB
Gruber
Gregory T
GT
Wolf
Jeffrey E
JE
Terrell
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012890:Sleep; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data