Quality of life and functional status measures in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship among three validated head and neck-specific measures of functional status and a general measure of quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer.

Designs: Cross-sectional study using medical chart review, patient interview, and test administration.

Setting: Academic tertiary referral center.

Participants: Fifty adults patients 3 months to 6 years after major surgery for head and neck cancer.

Main outcome measure: Scores from a general measure of quality of life (the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy), a subscale specific to head and neck cancer, the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Results: The disease-specific measures of functional status correlate well with one another. However, there were low correlations between the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy and the disease-specific measures, indicating that general and disease-specific instruments contribute unique information about quality of life.

Conclusion: A general measure of quality of life augments information obtained by disease-specific instruments by interpreting functional status in the broader scope of the patient's life.