Abstract
Quality of life (QOL) is a generic principle applicable to all people with or without disabilities. The aim of this review is to present useful information for evaluating the situations of people with head and neck cancer. We summarize the findings of a literature review of quality of life, related to the QOL topic in head and neck cancer, and a review of instruments that have been used for these purposes. We further recommend some which have been translated into Japanese and should be useful for the QOL evaluation of Japanese head and neck cancer patients.
Despite the diversity of opinions, QOL concepts are divided into seven major categories : social, life domains, life events, psychological, psychosocial, overall QOL and outcome behaviours. Several modules of QOL measurement of cancer are discussed ; especially we introduce questionnaires for the QOL measurement of patients with head and neck cancer. Implications for research and program policy and evaluation are proposed.
