OBJECTIVE: @entity135 ( @entity135 ) @entity1 experience debilitating side effects, including abnormally reduced salivation and difficulty swallowing. Intensive self-care protocols are prescribed to control side effects and minimise discomfort, but non-adherence rates are high. Although spouses are in a prime position to encourage adherence, studies have yet to examine how spouse social control (i.e. attempts to influence @entity1 behaviour to support adherence) affects @entity135 @entity1 mood and self-efficacy for engaging in these self-care routines. METHODS: One-hundred twenty-five @entity135 couples, where the @entity1 (86% male) was undergoing radiotherapy, were recorded in the laboratory as they discussed a @entity5 -related issue that the @entity1 identified as being a topic of concern. RESULTS: Sixty-eight couples discussed side effects and spouses engaged in social control in 61 of these discussions. Although @entity532 and @entity158 were frequently identified by @entity1 as being topics of concern, dental/oral care and @entity158 management were some of the least likely self-care behaviours to be targeted by spouses, who focused primarily on encouraging @entity1 to maintain their weight and hydration. Although spouses engaged in an almost equal number of positive and negative control attempts, only positive control was significantly (p  <  .05) associated with @entity1 positive mood and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: @entity135 couples may benefit from programmes that emphasise the regular practise of self-care routines to control oral side effects, @entity158 and nutrition/hydration problems. Likewise, programmes that encourage spouses to maximise their use of positive social control may also boost @entity1 ' mood during treatment and empower them to engage in recommended self-care behaviours.

An observational study of social control, mood, and self-efficacy in couples during treatment for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['HNC', 'Head and neck cancer'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer'] @entity532 :: ('MESH:D003925', 'Disease') :: ['oral complications'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity135 :: (MESH:D006258,Disease) :: ['head and neck cancer']
