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. 2022 Jan 24:11:747520.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.747520. eCollection 2021.

Defining a Standard Set of Health Outcomes for Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck in Spain

Virginia Arrazubi  1 , Gerardo Cajaraville  2 , David Cantero  3 , Jordi Giralt  4 , Ricard Mesia  5 , Florencio Monje  6 , Antonio Rueda  7 , Alexander Sistiaga  8 , Jorge Suarez  9 , Alejandro Mut  9 , Marta Comellas  10 , Luis Lizán  10   11
Affiliations

Defining a Standard Set of Health Outcomes for Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck in Spain

Virginia Arrazubi et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Purpose: A systematic, standardized collection of health outcomes during patient treatment and follow-up, relevant from the perspective of all stakeholders, is a crucial step toward effective and efficient disease management. This project aimed to define a standard set of health outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods: The project was led and coordinated by a scientific committee (SC). It comprised: (1) a literature review (to identify variables used during SCCHN management); (2) 1st-SC meeting (to select the variables for presentation during nominal groups-NG); (3) five NG (n=42 experts) and four interviews with patients (to reach consensus on the variables for inclusion); and (4) final-SC meeting (to review the results of NG ensuring consensus on the variables where consensus was not reached).

Results: Experts agreed to include the following variables in the standard set: treatment-related (treatment intent and type, response to treatment, treatment toxicity/complication, treatment completion), degree of health (performance status, patient-reported health status, pain, dysphonia, feeding and speech limitations, body image alteration, tracheotomy), survival (overall and progression-free survival, cause of death), nutritional (weight, nutritional intervention), other variables (smoking status, alcohol consumption, patient satisfaction with aftermath care, employment status), and case-mix variables (demographic, tumor-related, clinical and nutritional factors).

Conclusions: This project may pave the way to standardizing the collection of health outcomes in SCCHN and promote the incorporation of patients' perspective in its management. The information provided through the systematic compilation of this standard set may define strategies to achieve high-quality, patient-centered care.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; outcome measurement; patient centricity; patient-centered care; patient-reported outcomes; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

JS and AM are employees of Bristol Myers Squibb. MC and LL work for an independent research entity that received funding from Bristol Myers Squibb to coordinate and conduct the study. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Project phases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PRISMA flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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