Quality of life among total laryngectomized patients undergoing speech rehabilitation: correlation between several instruments.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate several instruments currently used for the assessment of the quality of life of patients who underwent total laryngectomy and speech rehabilitation. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted with 38 patients after total laryngectomy and speech therapy aiming to develop oesophageal speech. The patients were divided into the following two groups (19 participants each): speakers and non-speakers. The quality of life instruments used were as follows: visual analogue scale (VAS); Voice Handicap Index (VHI); Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL); Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Head & Neck (FACT-H&N); European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30); European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck (EORTC QLQ-H&N35); and University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL). RESULTS: The V-RQOL global health domain exhibited a strong correlation with the VHI. The EORTC QLQ-C30 exhibited a moderate to strong correlation with the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 functional domain in both groups. The EORTC QLQ-C30 functional domain exhibited a strong to moderate correlation with all other instruments in both groups. The UW-QOL exhibited a moderate to strong correlation with the VHI and EORTC QLQ-C30 in both groups. CONCLUSION: The EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N35 and UW-QOL were the instruments that most correlated with the remaining instruments, indicating that any of the three can be used to assess the quality of life of the target population regardless of oesophageal voice development.

Quality of life among total laryngectomized patients undergoing speech rehabilitation: correlation between several instruments

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate several instruments currently used for the assessment of the quality of life of patients who underwent total laryngectomy and speech rehabilitation. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted with 38 patients after total laryngectomy and speech therapy aiming to develop oesophageal speech. The patients were divided into the following two groups (19 participants each): speakers and non-speakers. The quality of life instruments used were as follows: visual analogue scale (VAS); Voice Handicap Index (VHI); Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL); Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Head & Neck (FACT-H&N); European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30); European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck (EORTC QLQ-H&N35); and University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL). RESULTS: The V-RQOL global health domain exhibited a strong correlation with the VHI. The EORTC QLQ-C30 exhibited a moderate to strong correlation with the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 functional domain in both groups. The EORTC QLQ-C30 functional domain exhibited a strong to moderate correlation with all other instruments in both groups. The UW-QOL exhibited a moderate to strong correlation with the VHI and EORTC QLQ-C30 in both groups. CONCLUSION: The EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N35 and UW-QOL were the instruments that most correlated with the remaining instruments, indicating that any of the three can be used to assess the quality of life of the target population regardless of oesophageal voice development.

Qualidade de vida de estudantes de fonoaudiologia / Quality of life of students in speech, language and hearing sciences

RESUMO Objetivo: comparar a qualidade de vida (QV) dos estudantes de Fonoaudiologia em diferentes períodos de graduação e identificar propostas para sua melhoria. Métodos: estudo transversal, exploratório e descritivo a partir de amostra por conveniência. Participaram 117 estudantes (segundo semestre de 2012), subdivididos pelo período de graduação: G1 (n=24) segundo, G2 (n=33) quarto, G3 (n=34) sexto e G4 (n=26) oitavo. Utilizou-se o instrumento WHOQOL-bref, acrescentando-se uma questão aberta: "Como a Coordenação do Curso de Fonoaudiologia poderia contribuir para a melhoria de sua qualidade de vida?". Utilizou-se o teste estatístico não paramétrico Kruskal Wallis, nível de significância de 5% (p<0.05). Calculou-se a frequência absoluta e relativa das respostas da questão aberta, categorizadas pelo conteúdo, e gerais. Resultados: predominou boa QV (53,84%) e satisfação com a saúde (49,57%). Não houve associação estatística significativa entre os grupos (p>0.05). A QV diminuiu em todos os domínios, do G2 ao G3, aumentando no G4. G3 foi pior. Obteve-se maior média no domínio relações sociais e menor, no meio ambiente. Verificou-se maior percentual (40%) na categoria "aumento da formação para cinco anos". Conclusão: não houve diferenças discrepantes da QV entre os períodos, sendo pior, o sexto. Relações sociais apresentou melhor domínio e o meio ambiente, o pior.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to compare the quality of life (QoL) of speech therapy students in different undergraduate semesters and identify proposals for improvement. Methods: this is a cross-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study using a convenience sample. A total of 117 undergraduate students participated in the study and they were divided according to the undergraduate semester: G1 (n = 24) second semester, G2 (n = 33) fourth semester, G3 (n = 34) sixth semester and G4 (n = 26) eighth semester. The WHOQoL-Bref was the instrument used, which also included an open question: "How can the coordination of the Speech and Language Therapy Course contribute to the improvement of your quality of life?" The non-parametric statistical Kruskal Wallis test was used at significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). The absolute and relative frequencies of responses to the open question were calculated and categorised by specific and general content. Results: QoL was predominantly good (53.84%) and health satisfactory (49.57%). There was no statistically significant association between the groups (p > 0.05). QoL decreased in all domains from G2 to G3, increasing in G4. G3 had the worst QoL perception. Social relations and environment were the domains with the highest and lowest mean values, respectively. The highest percentage (40%) was in the category "5-year undergraduate course". Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the QoL between the undergraduate semesters, with the sixth semester being the worst. Social relations had the highest mean value, whereas environment the lowest.