An investigation of the role of sense of coherence in predicting survival among Brazilians with head and neck cancer.

To test the hypothesis that people with head and neck (H&N) cancer with higher sense of coherence (SOC) have longer survival than those with lower SOC. A hospital-based prospective study of 162 subjects with newly diagnosed H&N cancer was conducted. Sense of coherence (SOC) was evaluated at baseline using the 13-item "Orientation to Life" questionnaire. Out of 162 subjects recruited at baseline, 152 were followed for up to 39 months from cancer diagnosis. One-year survival status was obtained for 140 subjects. No association was found between SOC and either 1-year survival status or survival length. The results of this study indicate that a high SOC, compared to lower SOC, does not seem to improve 1-year survival or survival length among this sample of Brazilians with H&N cancer.

An investigation of the correlates of sense of coherence in a sample of Brazilians with head and neck cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlates of Sense of Coherence (SOC) in Head and Neck (H&N) cancer patients during the initial months following their diagnosis. A sample of 162 subjects with newly diagnosed H&N cancer was recruited from a Brazilian hospital. SOC was evaluated using a validated instrument, and these data plus socio-demographic, behavioural and clinical data were collected using interviews. Correlates of SOC in the sample were analysed using multiple linear regression. The mean SOC score was 63.8 and the mean age was 57.7 years. Most of the subjects were male, had a partner and had low levels of education. The cancers were mainly in the oral cavity and diagnosed at a late stage. Analyses demonstrated that subjects who were men, who had a partner, who were working and those with an opportunity to talk openly had higher (i.e. stronger) SOC. No statistically significant association was observed between SOC and clinical variables or tobacco and alcohol consumption. These results suggest an association between SOC and socio-demographic and psychosocial covariates only in this sample of Brazilian H&N cancer patients.

Comparison of psychosocial outcomes in head and neck cancer patients receiving a coping strategies intervention and control subjects receiving no intervention.

This feasibility study aimed at comparing psychosocial outcomes in head and neck cancer patients receiving the Nucare program with a group of control subjects receiving no intervention. A prospective, nonrandomized study design was used. The Nucare program, a short-term psychoeducational coping strategies intervention, was the test intervention. Control subjects were matched to intervention subjects by cancer stage and time since cancer diagnosis. Outcomes were quality of life and depressive symptoms evaluated at baseline and 3 to 4 months later. One hundred thirty-eight subjects were recruited, and outcome data were available on 101 subjects. At outcome evaluation, compared with their baseline scores, the intervention group had improved physical and social functioning, global quality of life, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms; the control group showed no changes in quality of life or depressive symptoms. The results suggest that the Nucare program may improve quality of life and reduce depressive symptoms in head and neck cancer patients.