Why are head and neck cancer clinicians not measuring quality of life?
OBJECTIVE
To quantify and qualify the use of quality of life (QOL) measures by head and neck cancer clinicians and to identify any impediments to the use of these measures.


METHODS
Questionnaire survey of members of the Australia and New Zealand Head and Neck Society.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-eight of 187 (68.5 per cent) responded. Only 43 (34 per cent) had ever used a QOL questionnaire (QLQ), and only 17 (13 per cent) were currently using one. Impediments to QLQ use included clinicians' perceptions that QLQs were too time-consuming and conferred no proven benefit for clinical management. Nevertheless, 113 (88 per cent) respondents indicated willingness to use a minimum core QLQ--for routine clinical use and for research--but indicated a preference for a short (10-15 questions), quick (less than 10 minutes) questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
Most head and neck cancer clinicians did not use a QOL measure routinely, with impediments to routine use being mainly clinician-based. Most respondents would use a minimum core QOL measure, especially if it were a short, quick consensus questionnaire.
Mehanna
H M
HM
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Hisham.Mehanna@uhcw.nhs.uk
Morton
R P
RP
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*