Health locus of control, adjustment to cancer, and communication experiences after a laryngectomy were investigated in 63 laryngeal cancer survivors. Survivors who showed internal control also scored as better adjusted and had fewer communication problems. Scales were intercorrelated (.68 to .92).
Patients who had laryngectomies were grouped according to adjustment scales into "good copers" and "poorer copers." More than 70% of the laryngeal cancer survivors were well adjusted and classified as "good copers." Three social support scales were administered and revealed that "good copers" perceived themselves as having better quality networks and more functional support. A subjective self-evaluation of the subjects’ voices revealed a relationship between perceived voice quality, adjustment, and perceived social support. Rehabilitation for some patients with laryngectomies may need to include more direct nurturing; speech-language pathologists may want to suggest self-help groups or professional support counseling.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.