title: Moderators of the response to a nurse-led psychosocial intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the variables that moderate the response to psychosocial interventions to decrease depressive symptoms in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether variables associated with depressive symptoms in cancer patients in general moderate the response to a nurse-led psychosocial intervention in patients with head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the nurse counseling and after intervention (NUCAI) on depressive symptoms 12 months after cancer treatment in patients with head and neck cancer. Of 205 patients, 103 received the NUCAI and 102 care as usual. Twenty-one variables were selected for analysis and a linear regression analyses including interaction terms was performed for each variable separately. Significant moderators were post hoc probed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four moderators were found: marital status, global quality of life, emotional functioning, and social functioning. Patients who were married/living together or had low scores for global quality of life, and emotional or social functioning at baseline benefited more from the NUCAI than patients who were single or with high scores for global quality of life and emotional or social functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marital status, global quality of life, and emotional and social functioning of head and neck cancer patients should be evaluated to determine whether they might benefit from a psychosocial intervention to combat depressive symptoms. Further research is necessary to replicate results and to contribute to the knowledge needed to make screening and personalized patient care possible.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Str. 6.131, Po Box: 85500, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands, i.c.vandermeulen@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Ingeborg C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: J Rob J
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koole
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oosterom
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hordijk
authors.forename: Wynand J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ros
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D000067250:Psychiatric Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life