title: Validated questionnaires on intimacy in patients who have had cancer.
abstract: Problems with intimacy in patients with cancer of the head and neck may not be recognised. Our aim was to review published papers on patient-reported outcomes that record concerns about intimacy, sex, and function, to help develop a tool for use in head and neck cancer. We specifically looked for instruments with evidence of validation in patients with cancer, which could be used to identify problems with intimacy and sexuality. After evaluating 2563 papers, we identified 20 that satisfied our inclusion criteria, and these have been presented in a tabulated form. This review has shown the need to develop a questionnaire on intimacy that is specific to patients with cancer of the head and neck. It is an important issue that must be addressed by clinical and research teams, and will be done most effectively if it is linked to specific interventions.
authors.affiliation: Lead Cancer Nurse and Psychosexual Therapist, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Electronic address: Julie.hoole@cht.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoole
authors.affiliation: Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon / Senior Lecturer, Leeds Teaching Hospitals and St James Institute of Oncology. Electronic address: a.kanatas@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanatas
authors.affiliation: DFY2 in oral and maxillofacial surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds General Infirmary, LS1 3EX. Electronic address: alicecalvert@nhs.net.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvert
authors.affiliation: Regional Maxillofacial Unit, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: snrogers.aintree@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: York Health Economics Consortium Ltd, Level 2 Market Square, University of York, York, YO10 5NH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: adam.smith@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Consultant Oral/Maxillofacial & Head & Neck Surgeon, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Electronic address: David.mitchell2@bthft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Quality of life; head and neck cancer; health related quality of life; intimacy; oral cancer; psychosexual therapy