title: Predictors of quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors up to 5 years after end of treatment: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: This study aimed to assess quality of life (QoL) in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and determine factors predictive of poor QoL in the first 5 years after the end of treatment.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey, including the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors (QLACS) measure, was sent to HNC survivors in three Scottish health regions, with responses linked to routinely collected clinical data. Independent sample t tests, ANOVAs, Pearson correlations and multiple hierarchical regressions were used to explore associations between and to determine the contribution made by demographic, lifestyle and clinical factors to predicting 'generic' and 'cancer-specific' quality of life.
  
  
  
  Two hundred eighty patients (65 %) returned questionnaires. After adjustment, multivariate analysis showed that younger age, lower socio-economic status, unemployment and self-reported comorbidity independently contributed to poorer generic and cancer-specific quality of life. In addition to these factors, having had a feeding tube or a diagnosis of oral cavity cancer were independently predictive of poorer cancer-specific quality of life.
  
  
  
  Socio-economic factors and comorbidity are important predictors of QoL in HNC survivors. These factors and the detrimental long-term effects of feeding tubes need further attention in research and practice.
authors.affiliation: NMAHP Research Unit, Scion House, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4HN, UK. mary.wells@stir.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5789-2773
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Scrymgeour Building, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swartzman
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee, 11 Airlie Place, Dundee, DD1 4HJ, UK.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: NMAHP Research Unit, Scion House, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4HN, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy and Oncology, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: NHS Forth Valley, Larbert, FK5 4WR, Scotland.|Medicine and Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, PO BOc 9515, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: NHS Fife, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, KY12 OSU, UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.affiliation: Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow Boyd Orr Building, Level 11, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCowan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Feeding tube; Head and neck cancer; Quality of life; Socio-economic status; Survivors