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

SummaryTo 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.