title: Validation of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire (SSQ) in a cohort of head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ, UK. raghav_dwivedi@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Raghav C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St Rose
authors.forename: Justin W G
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Afroze S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pepper
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nutting
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Cyrus J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kerawala
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rhys-Evans
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Rehan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kazi
mesh_terms: 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