Are head and neck specific quality of life measures necessary?
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine whether head and neck-specific health status domains are distinct from those assessed by general measures of quality-of-life (QOL).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 55 head and neck cancer patients in tertiary academic center was made. Three head and neck-specific measures,-including the Head & Neck Survey (H&NS); a brief, multi-item test which generates domain scores; and a general health measure,-were administered.


RESULTS
The H&NS was highly reliable and more strongly correlated to the specific measures than to the general measure. Eating/swallowing (ES) and speech/communication (SC) were not well correlated with general health domains. Head and neck pain was highly correlated to general bodily pain (0.88, p < .0001). Despite correlations to some general health domains, appearance (AP) was not fully reflected by any other domain.


CONCLUSIONS
Head and neck-specific QOL measures are necessary and should include domains that reflect ES, SC, and AP.
Gliklich
R E
RE
Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, USA.
Goldsmith
T A
TA
Funk
G F
GF
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition; D004435:Eating; D004644:Emotions; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012380:Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013060:Speech