Supportive Care Needs Among Pretreatment Head and Neck Cancer Patients According to Smoking Status: A Cross-Sectional Study With Nested Analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

New head and neck cancer (HNC) patients may prioritize "competing" supportive care needs (SCNs) over smoking cessation, yet the burden of these SCNs according to smoking status is poorly characterized. We aimed to address this gap in knowledge.

Methods

The study applied a cross-sectional design and was guided by the Supportive Care Framework. Newly diagnosed HNC patients seen at the UTSW head and neck surgical oncology clinic between January 2021 and August 2024 and who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-4 were eligible. Clinically significant SCNs were derived from validated measures. The primary outcome was smoking status and the primary exposure was moderate-severe psychological distress (PHQ-4 ≥ 6).

Results

Among 250 new HNC patients, 16.4%

SUBMITTER: Mitchell DN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12852051 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature