Variations in concerns reported on the patient concerns inventory in patients with head and neck cancer from different health settings across the world.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to collate and contrast patient concerns from a range of different head and neck cancer follow-up clinics around the world. Also, we sought to explore the relationship, if any, between responses to the patient concerns inventory (PCI) and overall quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Nineteen units participated with intention of including 100 patients per site as close to a consecutive series as possible in order to minimize selection bias. RESULTS: There were 2136 patients with a median total number of PCI items selected of 5 (2-10). "Fear of the cancer returning" (39%) and "dry mouth" (37%) were most common. Twenty-five percent (524) reported less than good QOL. CONCLUSION: There was considerable variation between units in the number of items selected and in overall QOL, even after allowing for case-mix variables. There was a strong progressive association between the number of PCI items and QOL.

[Head and neck cancer: validation of the QLQ-H&N35 quality of life questionnaire]. / Cáncer de cabeza y cuello: validación de cuestionario QLQ-H&N35.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer affects esthetic and anatomical parameters, causing pain and functional impotence, affecting vital functions such as eating and breathing, hampering the quality of life of patients. EORTCQLQ-C30 questionnaire with its supplementary module QLQ-H & N35 evaluates the quality of life of these patients. AIM: To statistically validate the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we studied patients with head and neck cancer who attended a rehabilitation unit. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's α and validity was determined by the diagnostic efficiency of the QLQ-H & N35 scale as compared with the SF-36 quality of life survey. A Receiver Operational Characteristic (ROC) curve was generated. RESULTS: The Cronbach's α global internal consistency of the questionnaire was > 0.70 and its discrimination capacity was 74.2%, which are considered acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the statistical validity of the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire, specifically for patients with head and neck cancer in Chile.

Cáncer de cabeza y cuello: validación de cuestionario QLQ-H& N35 / Head and neck cancer: validation of the QLQ-H& N35 quality of life questionnaire

Background: Head and neck cancer affects esthetic and anatomical parameters, causing pain and functional impotence, affecting vital functions such as eating and breathing, hampering the quality of life of patients. EORTCQLQ-C30 questionnaire with its supplementary module QLQ-H & N35 evaluates the quality of life of these patients. Aim: To statistically validate the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire in patients with head and neck cancer. Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we studied patients with head and neck cancer who attended a rehabilitation unit. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's α and validity was determined by the diagnostic efficiency of the QLQ-H & N35 scale as compared with the SF-36 quality of life survey. A Receiver Operational Characteristic (ROC) curve was generated. Results: The Cronbach's α global internal consistency of the questionnaire was > 0.70 and its discrimination capacity was 74.2%, which are considered acceptable. Conclusions: These results confirm the statistical validity of the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire, specifically for patients with head and neck cancer in Chile.