No abstract

This is the unspecified version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link (EORTC QLQ-C30) in conjunction with the disease-specific Head & Neck Cancer Module (QLQ-H&N35).Outcomes and results: There were no significant differences between males and females on demographic and disease-related variables, except for the following: significantly more females lived alone and changed their employment status following surgery. Males had a significantly higher global health status/QOL than females (p<.05) and significantly higher levels of physical (p=.01), emotional (p<.01), cognitive (p<.05) and social functioning (p<.05). After adjusting for differences in living arrangements and change in employment status, differences in emotional and social functioning remained significant. There was a general trend for females to have higher symptom/impairment levels and to report more treatment-related problems but the majority of these differences were not significant. Conclusions and implications:Following total laryngectomy, females appear to be worse affected in aspects of QOL than males. Emotional and social functioning are particularly vulnerable. The findings imply that rehabilitation programmes after total laryngectomy need to evaluate QOL and address these specific areas in order to improve patient-reported long-term outcomes.

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. patient-reported outcome measure in a large group of people with laryngectomy. Permanent repository linkDesign: cross-sectional psychometric study.Participants: Laryngectomy patients (minimum 3-months post-treatment) attending routine hospital followup.Main outcome measure: psychometric evaluation of SOAL.Results: One hundred and ten people participated. Thirteen percent had a laryngectomy, 63% had laryngectomy with radiotherapy, and 24% had laryngectomy with chemoradiation therapy. The SOAL showed good quality of data (minimal missing data and floor effects); good internal consistency (=.91); and adequate test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient =.73). In terms of validity, it differentiated people by treatment group (F(2,85)=8.02, p=0.001) and diet texture group (t(102)=-7.33, p<0.001). Conclusions:The SOAL demonstrates good validity and has potential for use in research. Further study is required to determine its clinical application.

BackgroundLittle is known about what factors affect patient‐reported swallowing outcome after total laryngectomy. We explored whether patient demographics, surgical variables, use of adjuvant treatment, and time since surgery were associated with patient‐reported swallowing outcome.MethodsCross‐sectional study of laryngectomees in eight UK hospitals. Demographic, treatment, and surgical variables were drawn from medical notes. The swallowing outcomes after laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire captured perceived swallowing outcome.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty one participants had complete data on treatment‐related variables. In regression analysis, having a free jejunum flap repair and requiring chemoradiation were the only two variables that added significantly to the model of worse self‐reported swallowing outcome (R2 adjusted = .23, P < .001).ConclusionThe SOAL is a sensitive measure of self‐reported swallowing outcome after laryngectomy. Type of surgical closure and the type of additional treatment influenced the swallowing outcome reported by patients. Changes in perceived swallowing function need to be routinely evaluated to inform clinical decision‐making and intervention.