Quality of life during the first 3 months following discharge after surgery for head and neck cancer: prospective evaluation.
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.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of the Erasmus University Medical Centre, a tertiary health care centre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.


METHODS
Ninety head and neck cancer patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy, neck dissection, or the commando procedure.


METHODS
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.
van den Brink
Jaap L
JL
Department of Otorhinalaryngology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
de Boer
Maarten F
MF
Pruyn
Jean F A
JF
Hop
Wim C J
WC
Verwoerd
Carel D A
CD
Moorman
Peter W
PW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009426:Netherlands; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome