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| Research article summary (published 30 Mar 2009): |
Screening for dysfunction to promote multidisciplinary intervention by using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Full Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) in routine clinics as a quick screening tool for possible dysfunction in patients after treatment of head and neck cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Regional Maxillofacial Unit, Aintree University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust Liverpool, a National Health Service teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive disease-free patients with oral or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, who had undergone primary surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy, for whom UW-QOL version 4 data from 2000 to May 2006 were available in our research database; and consecutive patients from previous studies (4 postal surveys of disease-free patients with oral or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 1 clinic-based study that targeted speech and swallowing in patients with oropharyngeal disease, 1 that evaluated shoulder function in patients with various diagnoses, and 1 that recruited patients without cancer attending a general dental practice). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cutoff strategies for further evaluation/intervention derived from studies using the UW-QOL in parallel with 13 other established questionnaires. Effects of preferred cutoffs on trigger variation were assessed with the use of all available UW-QOL version 4 data (615 patients). RESULTS: Trigger rates for further intervention fell between 9% (recreation and speech) and 16% (swallowing). Eighty-one percent of patients with free-flap surgery and adjuvant therapy for T3 or T4 tumors met the trigger criteria at around 2 years, with 42% meeting the trigger on 3 or more domains. CONCLUSION: The fourth version of the UW-QOL is suitable for routine screening in clinical practice.
Author information
Author/s: Rogers, Simon N (SN); Lowe, Derek (D);
Affiliation: Regional Maxillofacial Unit, Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Aintree, Liverpool L9 7AL, England. snrogers(-atsign-)doctors.org.uk
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Apr; vol 135 (issue 4) : pp 369-75
Dates: Created 2009/04/21; Completed 2009/05/28;
PMID: 19380359, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/28/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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