Open AccessRole of Psychosocial Factors on Communicative Participation among Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer
Author(s) -
Eadie Tanya,
Faust Lauren,
Bolt Susan,
KapsnerSmith Mara,
Pompon Rebecca Hunting,
Baylor Carolyn,
Futran Neal,
Méndez Eduardo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599818765718
Subject(s) - psychosocial , social support , head and neck cancer , clinical psychology , psychology , depression (economics) , psychological resilience , rehabilitation , laryngectomy , medicine , physical therapy , cancer , psychiatry , larynx , surgery , social psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the unique contribution of psychosocial factors, including perceived social support, depression, and resilience to communicative participation, among adult survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC). Study Design Cross‐sectional. Setting University‐based laboratory and speech clinic. Subjects and Methods Adult survivors of HNC who were at least 2 years posttreatment for HNC completed patient‐reported outcome measures, including those related to communicative participation and psychosocial function. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to predict communicative participation. Self‐rated speech severity, cognitive function, laryngectomy status, and time since diagnosis were entered first as a block of variables (block 1), and psychosocial factors were entered second (block 2). Results Eighty‐eight adults who were on average 12.2 years post–HNC diagnosis participated. The final regression model predicted 58.2% of the variance in communicative participation (full model R 2 = 0.58, P <. 001). Self‐rated speech severity, cognitive function, laryngectomy status, and time since diagnosis together significantly predicted 46.1% of the variance in block 1. Perceived social support, depression, resilience, and interactions significantly and uniquely predicted 12.1% of the additional variance in block 2. Conclusion For clinicians, psychosocial factors such as perceived depression warrant consideration when counseling patients with HNC about communication outcomes and when designing future studies related to rehabilitation.