Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in head and neck cancer patients at 1 and 5 years after successful treatment of their tumors, and to explore the usefulness of 2 instruments for assessing the need of dental care services.
METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study included 20 adult patients with head and neck cancer who completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT H&N) Symptom Index and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N43) after 1 and 5 years of treatment.
RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation, SD) scores of the FACT H&N Symptom Index were higher (better HRQoL) at 5 years than at 1 year (24.1 [4.4] vs. 21.1 [6.4]; p = 0.236). Only three of the ten items of FACT H&N (swallow, pain in mouth/throat or neck, and solid foods) evaluated oral health. In the EORTC QLQ-H&N43 questionnaire, scores were lower at 5 years (better HRQoL) in almost all multi- and single-item symptoms. This questionnaire includes four multi-item scales (pain in the mouth, social eating, swallowing, and problems with teeth) measuring dental and orthodontic needs.
CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL in patients with head and neck cancer improved with the length of follow-up. The EORTC QLQ-H&N43 has more items addressing oral health compared to the FACT H&N Symptom Index and may be more adequate to assess the need of dental therapy in clinical practice.
METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study included 20 adult patients with head and neck cancer who completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT H&N) Symptom Index and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N43) after 1 and 5 years of treatment.
RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation, SD) scores of the FACT H&N Symptom Index were higher (better HRQoL) at 5 years than at 1 year (24.1 [4.4] vs. 21.1 [6.4]; p = 0.236). Only three of the ten items of FACT H&N (swallow, pain in mouth/throat or neck, and solid foods) evaluated oral health. In the EORTC QLQ-H&N43 questionnaire, scores were lower at 5 years (better HRQoL) in almost all multi- and single-item symptoms. This questionnaire includes four multi-item scales (pain in the mouth, social eating, swallowing, and problems with teeth) measuring dental and orthodontic needs.
CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL in patients with head and neck cancer improved with the length of follow-up. The EORTC QLQ-H&N43 has more items addressing oral health compared to the FACT H&N Symptom Index and may be more adequate to assess the need of dental therapy in clinical practice.
摘要：
目的：本研究旨在研究头颈部癌症患者在肿瘤成功治疗后1年和5年的健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）。并探讨两种工具对评估牙科护理服务需求的有用性。
方法：这项横断面试点研究包括20名成年头颈部癌症患者，他们完成了头颈部癌症治疗功能评估（FACTH＆N）症状指数和欧洲癌症研究和治疗组织生活质量头颈部模块（EORTCQLQ-H＆N43）。
结果：平均值(标准偏差，SD）FACTH＆N症状指数的评分在5年高于1年（24.1[4.4]vs.21.1[6.4]；p=0.236)。FACTH&N十项中只有三项(燕子，口腔/喉咙或颈部疼痛，和固体食物）评估口腔健康。在EORTCQLQ-H&N43问卷中，在几乎所有多项目和单项目症状中,5年时评分较低(较好的HRQoL).这份问卷包括四个多项目量表(口腔疼痛，社交饮食,吞咽,和牙齿的问题)测量牙齿和正畸需求。
结论：头颈部肿瘤患者的HRQoL随着随访时间的延长而改善。与FACTH＆N症状指数相比，EORTCQLQ-H＆N43具有更多涉及口腔健康的项目，并且可能更足以评估临床实践中牙科治疗的需求。
方法：这项横断面试点研究包括20名成年头颈部癌症患者，他们完成了头颈部癌症治疗功能评估（FACTH＆N）症状指数和欧洲癌症研究和治疗组织生活质量头颈部模块（EORTCQLQ-H＆N43）。
结果：平均值(标准偏差，SD）FACTH＆N症状指数的评分在5年高于1年（24.1[4.4]vs.21.1[6.4]；p=0.236)。FACTH&N十项中只有三项(燕子，口腔/喉咙或颈部疼痛，和固体食物）评估口腔健康。在EORTCQLQ-H&N43问卷中，在几乎所有多项目和单项目症状中,5年时评分较低(较好的HRQoL).这份问卷包括四个多项目量表(口腔疼痛，社交饮食,吞咽,和牙齿的问题)测量牙齿和正畸需求。
结论：头颈部肿瘤患者的HRQoL随着随访时间的延长而改善。与FACTH＆N症状指数相比，EORTCQLQ-H＆N43具有更多涉及口腔健康的项目，并且可能更足以评估临床实践中牙科治疗的需求。
