ArticleEuropean journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society2026
Depressive symptoms and perceived stress in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy: A longitudinal study.
Article in European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeDepressive symptoms and perceived stress are common mental health challenges among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This study examined longitudinal changes in these outcomes and identified associated risk factors.
methodsA secondary analysis was conducted using data from a prospective longitudinal study of 197 patients, with four assessment points: pre-IMRT, end of IMRT, 6 months post-IMRT, and 1-year post-IMRT. Multivariable Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used to assess temporal changes and associated risk factors, adjusting for antidepressant use.
resultsDepressive symptoms significantly increased from pre-IMRT to end-IMRT (B = 4.62, 95% CI [3.72, 5.53]), followed by non-significant declines at 6 months and 1 year. Perceived stress showed a non-significant increase at end-IMRT but decreased significantly at 6 months (B = -2.44, 95% CI [-3.80, -1.09]) and 1 year (B = -3.26, 95% CI [-4.88, -1.64]). Higher depressive symptoms were associated with unmarried status (B = 2.27, 95% CI [0.93, 3.61]) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube use (B = 1.72, 95% CI [0.57, 2.87]). Higher perceived stress was associated with younger age (B = -0.10, 95% CI [-0.18, -0.02]), female sex (B = 3.02, 95% CI [1.25, 4.80]), unmarried status (B = 4.42, 95% CI [2.62, 6.22]), and PEG tube use (B = 2.58, 95% CI [0.97, 4.19]).
conclusionsDepressive symptoms and perceived stress worsened during IMRT, with partial recovery post-treatment. Patients who are unmarried, female, younger, or require PEG support are at elevated risk. These findings highlight the need for oncology nurses to implement routine psychosocial screening across the IMRT trajectory and targeted supportive interventions for vulnerable subgroups.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.