Hoda Badr|Krista Herbert|Karishma Chhabria|Vlad C. Sandulache|Elizabeth Y. Chiao|Timothy Wagner
Self?management intervention for head and neck cancer couples: Results of a randomized pilot trial
Baylor College of Medicine|Rowan University|Baylor College of Medicine|Baylor College of Medicine|Baylor College of Medicine|Baylor College of Medicine
abstract background patients head neck cancer hnc experience significant physical psychological morbidity radiotherapy rt contributes treatment interruptions poor quality life although spousespartners help encouraging patient selfmanagement eg selfcare rt often experience high psychological distress rates lack basic health care knowledge skills report increased marital conflict regarding patient selfmanagement current pilot study examined feasibility acceptability 6session telephonebased intervention called pouses coping h ead nd neck r adiation e xperience share teaches selfmanagement communication coping skills patients hnc spouses treatment effects share compared usual medical care umc controlling patient physical symptoms improving patientspouse psychological marital functioning also examined methods thirty patients initiated rt spouses 60 participants 40 racialethnic minorities randomized share umc preintervention postintervention assessments completed results solid recruitment 70 low attrition rates 7 demonstrated feasibility strong program evaluations homework completion rates 72 supported acceptability significant treatment effects medium magnitude observed share compared umc regard hncspecific physical symptom burden cohens 089 symptom interference cohens 086 medium large effects favoring share also found patient spouse depressive symptoms cohens 084 cancerspecific distress cohens 105 conclusions findings current study support feasibility acceptability preliminary efficacy share also suggest programs empower hnc couples necessary skills coordinate care manage challenges rt together hold great promise controlling patients physical symptoms improving psychological functioning partners