2019 Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 161-170
Aim: Studies have reported that both survival rate and patients' Quality of Life (QOL) post-treatment need to be considered when determining treatments for head and neck cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the actual QOL of post-discharge patients who underwent laryngectomy and identify factors affecting the global health status of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 (hereafter QL2).
Subjects: We selected post-discharge patients who underwent laryngectomy at a regional medical care support hospital and who could answer the questionnaire themselves. Subjects who provided informed consent were included in the study. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H＆N35 questionnaires were used to determine the patients' actual QOL.
Methods: The EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H＆N35 questionnaires were administered to each patient. Patients were categorized into the QL2 high and low score groups based on the median QL2 scores that were statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney's U test and χ2 test between the two groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was assessed among multiple-item scales, single-item scales, and each scale in EORTC QLQ-H＆N35. Barthel Index, occupation, years after surgery, and age parameters were included in a binary logistic regression analysis to identify factors affecting QL2.
Results: Subjects were categorized in the QL2 high score group (n＝35) and QL2 low score group (n＝27), respectively. Barthel Index (p＝0.002) and occupation (p＝.011) were significant between the two groups. We found strong correlations between trouble with social eating and trouble with social contact and between trouble with social eating and swallowing in the EORTC QLQ-H＆N35 questionnaire. We also found strong correlations between swallowing and senses problems and between swallowing and trouble with social eating. Occupation was an independent factor affecting QL2 (OR:4.46, 95%CI: 1.03–19.32, p＝0.046).
Conclusion: Swallowing was correlated with senses problems and trouble with social eating as swallowing for QOL of post-discharge patients who underwent laryngectomy. Occupation was a factor affecting QL2.
