title: Study Protocol: Evaluation of a DVD intervention designed to meet the informaton needs of patients with head and neck cancer and their partner, carer and families.
abstract: Patients who undergo surgery for cancer of the head and neck and their families face complex and difficult challenges and are at risk of anxiety and depression and inability to cope with symptom and treatment burden. Information available to support them is not flexible enough to adjust to individual need.
  
  
  
  A randomised clinical trial pre and post intervention design, comparing the use of a tailored DVD intervention, provided preoperatively and used throughout the post- operative period, with usual treatment. One hundred fifty-six individuals or partner couples will be randomly recruited into either the intervention or control group. A survey will be administered at three time points, preoperatively, post operatively and 3 months post-surgery. Anxiety and empowerment are the primary outcome measures. Qualitative data about use of the resource will be gathered by phone interview.
  
  
  
  This is the first study to rigorously evaluate the impact of a DVD intervention for this group of patients and their family members. The study will help to understand the impact of information usage on patient and family well- being and test a means by which to evaluate information and education resources for this and other cancer patient groups.
  
  
  
  ACTRN12614001104640 . Date registered: 17/10/2014.
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia. vparker3@une.edu.au.|School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia. vparker3@une.edu.au.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0834-9528
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
authors.forename: Leearna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia.|University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellamy
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia.|University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.|Psycho-oncology, Calvary Mater Hospital, Waratah, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Britton
authors.affiliation: Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D017028:Caregivers; D016250:Compact Disks; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires