title: Evolution of quality of life assessment in head and neck cancer.
abstract: Quality of life assessment as part of clinical practice in head and neck oncology began over 40 years ago. Early studies were narrative and cross-sectional; these were followed, at first, by simple quantitative measures of various parameters and later by longitudinal studies of greater complexity. More recently quality of life has been employed in a randomized clinical trial of head and neck cancer. Quality of life has evolved to become a standard means of assessing clinical outcomes, and an accepted end point measurement in clinical trials, to be considered alongside survivorship and side effects/complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Morton
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000266:history / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D009626:Terminology as Topic