A survey of patients' preferences on treatment effects among head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy
Oral Oncology
; 118:14, 2021.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1735115
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a heterogeneous group of subsites, with differing natural histories. Its management is complex and it may have a long-term effect on patients’ quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this survey was to assess patients’ preferences using a validated 12 point ‘Priority Assessment Tool’ developed by Sharp et al [1]. Materials andMethods:
Sixty consecutive HNC patients being treated with radiotherapy at our centre were approached. Patients were asked to rank their priorities from 1 to 12 (1 = very important, 12 = least important).Results:
45 patients (75%) completed the survey. The most important, overwhelming priority for the cohort as a whole, was ‘being cured of my cancer’ which was first priority in 73% patients and within first three priorities for 96% of patients. Similarly, ‘living as long as possible’ was within the first three priorities for 67% of patients although for 13% patients, living longer was, surprisingly the least priority. For more than two third of patients (69%), ‘having no pain’ was within the first four important priorities. There is next, a group of six QOL priorities (voice, speech, chewing, swallowing, taste/smell, moist mouth), which have a much wider range and vary considerably in importance to individual patients, being very important to some and much less important to others. There then remains a group of three priorities that have a relatively low importance to patients, not absolutely, but in relation to their other priorities, with ‘keeping appearance unchanged’, being the lowest priority chosen by 40% patients. The other two least priorities were ‘returning to activities as soon as possible’ and ‘having a normal amount of energy’.Conclusions:
Our survey has shown that most HNC patients markedly prioritise survival over function and other QOL measures. Having such information is crucial, to being able to make a valid decision with regard to the treatment options and the trade-offs between increased probability of cure or extending survival and loss of function, and late morbidity. This makes shared decision-making even more important in the present COVID-19 era, so that added information about the risks of infection and potential changes in risk benefit ratio may alter patients’ priorities and preferred outcomes.
adult; cancer patient; cancer radiotherapy; cancer survival; cohort analysis; conference abstract; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; female; head and neck cancer; human; loss of function mutation; major clinical study; male; mastication; morbidity; mouth; odor; outcome assessment; pain; patient preference; probability; quality of life; radiotherapy; shared decision making; speech; survival; swallowing; voice
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Language:
English
Journal:
Oral Oncology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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