Vilela, L. D., Nicolau, B., Mahmud, S., Edgar, L., Hier, M., Black, M., . . . Allison, P. J. (2006). Comparison of psychosocial outcomes in head and neck cancer patients receiving a coping strategies intervention and control subjects receiving no intervention. Journal of Otolaryngology, 35, 88–96.
The Nucare program was a short-term psychoeducational coping strategies intervention. Three delivery formats were offered: (1) small group, (2) one-to-one, and (3) a home format with didactic material. The didactic material comprised a workbook, cassette or CD containing spoken instruction to guide the individual through the workbook, and music to accompany the relaxation training component. Outcomes were quality of life (QOL) and depressive symptoms.
Outpatient oncology clinic at the Jewish General Hospital Montreal, Canada
Patients were undergoing the long-term follow-up phase of care.
This was a feasibility study with a prospective, nonrandomized design, two groups, and repeated measures at baseline and three and four months.
Compared with their baseline scores, the intervention group had improved physical and social functioning, global QOL, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms. The control group showed no changes in QOL or depressive symptoms.