title: Adherence to preventive exercises and self-reported swallowing outcomes in post-radiation head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To reduce the risk of long-term swallowing complications after radiation, swallowing exercises may be helpful. Both the rate of adherence to swallowing exercises and its impact on future swallowing function are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 109 patients with oropharyngeal cancer beginning radiation were tracked for 2 years to determine adherence to swallowing exercises. Participants completed the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) 1-2 years after treatment, to assess self-reported swallowing function. Adherence, demographics, tumor, and treatment variables were multivariably regressed onto the MDADI physical subscale score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In accord with speech pathologist documentation, 13% of the participants were fully adherent and 32% were partially adherent. Adherence was associated with the Physical MDADI Subscale score in the multivariate model (p = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients with head and neck cancer are nonadherent to swallowing exercise regimens and may benefit from supportive care strategies to optimize their adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Eileen Huh
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shinn
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basen-Engquist
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steen
authors.forename: Rachel Freeman
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Adam Seth
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Garden
authors.forename: Cathleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sheil
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kilgore
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barringer
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D057566:Self Report
keywords: adherence; dysphagia; exercises; oropharyngeal cancer