Quality of life measurements of speech in the head and neck cancer patient population.
BACKGROUND
To employ patient-reported speech outcome data collected on head and neck cancer (HNC) surveys, there is a need to determine (1) the relationship of patient ratings to speech language pathologist (SLP) ratings and (2) whether patients' attitudes toward their speech are an important element of speech measurements.


METHODS
Associations were analyzed between (1) patients' ratings of speech function on surveys and equivalent SLP ratings and (2) patients' ratings of speech function and their satisfaction with speech function.


RESULTS
Patient-reported survey ratings were significantly associated with comparable SLP ratings. The associations were stronger for intelligibility than for voice quality. Patients' functional and attitudinal ratings were also significantly associated. The associations were relatively strong for composite speech items and intelligibility and moderate for voice quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient-reported speech outcomes can be interpreted as being fairly equivalent to SLP evaluations. Attitudinal ratings appear to contribute an important aspect of the patients' perspective, with substantially different variances between function and attitude.
Karnell
L H
LH
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242-1078, USA.
Funk
G F
GF
Tomblin
J B
JB
Hoffman
H T
HT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D014833:Voice Quality