Validation of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) in a cohort of head and neck cancer patients.
Impairment of swallowing function is a common multidimensional symptom complex seen in 50-75% of head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Although there are a number of validated swallowing-specific questionnaires, much of their focus is on the evaluation of swallowing-related quality of life (QOL) rather than swallowing as a specific function. The aim of this study was to validate the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) as a swallowing-specific instrument in HNC patients. Fifty-four consecutive patients in follow-up for oral and oropharyngeal cancer completed the SSQ and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI). Thirty-one patients completed both questionnaires again four weeks later to address test-retest reliability. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and Spearman's correlation coefficient, respectively. Construct validity (including group validity) and criterion validity were determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U-test. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, group validity and criterion validity of the SSQ was found to be significant (P<0.01). We were able to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the SSQ in HNC patients. The SSQ is a precise, reliable and valid tool for assessing swallow in this patient group.
Dwivedi
Raghav C
RC
Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ, UK. raghav_dwivedi@rediffmail.com
St Rose
Suzanne
S
Roe
Justin W G
JW
Khan
Afroze S
AS
Pepper
Christopher
C
Nutting
Christopher M
CM
Clarke
Peter M
PM
Kerawala
Cyrus J
CJ
Rhys-Evans
Peter H
PH
Harrington
Kevin J
KJ
Kazi
Rehan
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires