Patient self-reported and clinician-rated quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

One to six years after treatment for head and neck cancer, 68 patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire at home with a subsequent examination at the out-patient clinic of the Ullevål University Hospital. 50 patients (74%) both answered the questionnaire (the EORTC QLQ-C30, a diagnosis specific questionnaire module, the GHQ-20, and two questions from a population survey) and presented for examination where the clinician rated side effects after treatment, and filled in the Karnofsky Performance Status and the Spitzer's Quality of Life index. No patients had relapse or second primary tumours at the time of examination but a variety of post-treatment side effects were recorded. The patients appeared to report lower quality of life including more post-treatment side effects compared with the clinician's assessments. The cost-benefit of the standard clinical follow-ups in terms of increased survival may be questioned. Patients seem to need better support in coping with the physical and psychosocial problems which often appear.