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Objective: To identify patient groups that are prone to poorer quality of life (QoL) during the first 3 months following discharge from the hospital after surgery for head and neck cancer. Design: Prospective evaluation of the QoL of surgically treated head and neck cancer patients measured with questionnaires at discharge and at 6 weeks and 3 months after discharge. Setting: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of the Erasmus University Medical Centre, a tertiary health care centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Participants: Ninety head and neck cancer patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy, neck dissection, or the commando procedure. Main Outcome Measures: Patients' quality of life in 22 different dimensions. Results: Three patient characteristics associated with poorer QoL during the first 3 months following discharge from the hospital after surgery for head and neck cancer: laryngectomy, lower levels of education, and being single. QoL already improved in eight QoL dimensions during the first 3 months after discharge, but QoL in the dimensions "loss of control" and "physical self-efficacy" worsened during this same period. Conclusions: It is possible to identify patient groups that are prone to poorer QoL during the first 3 months following discharge from the hospital after surgery for head and neck cancer. The results of this study may help care providers working with head and neck cancer patients to tailor their rehabilitation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Comparison of quality of life (QoL) and side effects in a randomized trial for early hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) after radiotherapy (RT). Methods and Materials: From 2006, 19 patients with tumor originating from the tonsillar fossa and/or soft palate (15), base of tongue (1), and nasopharynx (3) were randomized to receive HBOT or not. HBOT consisted of 30 sessions at 2.5 ATA (15 msw) with oxygen breathing for 90 min daily, 5 days per week, applied shortly after the RT treatment was completed. As of 2005, all patients received validated questionnaires (i.e., the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ Head and Neck Cancer Module (H&N35), Performance Status Scale): before treatment; at the start of RT treatment; after 46 Gy; at the end of RT treatment; and 2, 4, and 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after follow-up. Results: On all QoL items, better scores were obtained in patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen. The difference between HBOT vs. non-HBOT was significant for all parameters: EORTC H&N35 Swallowing (p = 0.011), EORTC H&N35 Dry Mouth (p = 0.009), EORTC H&N35, Sticky Saliva (p = 0.01), PSS Eating in Public (p = 0.027), and Pain in Mouth (visual analogue scale; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Patients randomized for receiving hyperbaric oxygen after the RT had better QoL scores for swallowing, sticky saliva, xerostomia, and pain in mouth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many cancer patients experience psychosocial problems that go unnoticed by caregivers. To improve this situation, an instrument has been developed and tested to identify such problems. This instrument, the integral checklist, was put to the test in two outpatient departments of different hospitals with an intervention and a control group (105 and 124 patients, respectively). To evaluate the efficiency of the checklist, both groups had to complete a questionnaire after consultation. Results showed that the checklist assisted specialists to be more often pro-active in discussing psychosocial problems with their patients, and more patients with psychosocial problems were referred. Most of the patients appreciated going through the checklist with their specialist. The checklist proves to fit in well with hospital routines and using it costs the specialist no extra time. It appears to be an instrument which improves efficiency of consultation. Moreover, the checklist is turned out to be useful as a management tool to divert patients’ attention away from the waiting time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]