title: What factors are associated with posttraumatic growth in head and neck cancer carers?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Researchers have recently called for more work to be conducted on positive outcomes and head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with posttraumatic growth in head and neck cancer caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  197 carers were surveyed. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariate analysis the following factors were statistically significantly associated with increased posttraumatic growth: social support, longer time since diagnosis, increased worry about cancer and increased financial stress and strain stemming from caring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While HNC carers in the post-treatment phase of the illness trajectory can experience considerable psychological burdens, this study suggests that these burdens can lead some carers to experience growth and change and an expanded sense of themselves and their social worlds. Implications for nursing practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry of Ireland, Cork Airport Business Park, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: m.balfe@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Myles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balfe
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry of Ireland, Cork Airport Business Park, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: kobrien@ncri.ie.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O' Brien
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry of Ireland, Cork Airport Business Park, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: atimmons@ncri.ie.
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timmons
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: phyllis.butow@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: Eleanor.osullivan@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O' Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Musculskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: R.Gooberman-Hill@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gooberman-Hill
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK. Electronic address: Linda.Sharp@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Carer; Head & neck cancer; Posttraumatic growth; Psychosocial