Association between cognitive social capital and saliva-related quality of life among head and neck cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the association between cognitive social capital and patient-reported saliva-related quality of life among head and neck cancer survivors. Methods This cross-sectional study included adults treated with curative intent for squamous cell carcinoma of the lip/oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx at a referral hospital in southern Brazil. The outcome was patient-reported saliva-related quality of life, assessed using the saliva domain of the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire (UW-QOL); higher scores indicate better outcomes. Cognitive social capital was assessed using a brief three-item proxy index; participants were classified as scoring 3 (the maximum) or below 3. Hierarchical multiple linear regression estimated unstandardised coefficients ( B ) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for education, tumour location, radiotherapy (yes vs. no), and time since treatment completion. Sensitivity analyses tested alternative operationalisations and adjustments. Results A total of 105 adults participated (response rate 84.7%). The mean UW-QOL saliva-domain score was 61.85 ± 33.90, and 18 participants (17.1%) scored below 3. In the fully adjusted model, a score below 3 was associated with poorer saliva-related quality of life ( B = −18.53; 95% CI −33.85 to −3.21; p = 0.018); sensitivity analyses were consistent. Conclusion In this exploratory study, lower scores on a three-item cognitive social capital proxy index were associated with poorer saliva-related quality of life among head and neck cancer survivors. Perceived social resources may be relevant to this burden, but these preliminary findings require confirmation in larger longitudinal studies.