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An evaluation of the University of Washington Quality of Life swallowing domain following oropharyngeal cancer

  • Head and Neck
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Abstract

Oropharyngeal cancer and its treatment have debilitating effect on swallowing function which can impact on quality of life. The aims of this study were to assess swallowing dysfunction in patients treated for oropharyngeal cancer by both patient and observer assessed tools and to assess the suitability of University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) swallowing domain as a potential screening tool in routine clinic practice. This was a cross-sectional study of disease free survivors following radical treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma at a tertiary care centre between 1999 and May 2005. Evaluation included three questionnaires—the M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), the SWALQOL, the University of Washington Quality of Life (UWQOL) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). Of 117 patients 77 (66%) participated. On the UW-QOL, 18% could only swallow liquids whilst 11% could not swallow at all. There is a clear demarcation between UW-QOL levels and food consistency and texture as measured by the SWALQOL (r = −0.86, P < 0.001). There was a graduation in respect to function with correlations of r = 0.61 with overall MDADI and SWALQOL and r = −0.45 for FEES. Patients scoring 70 or better in the UW-QOL were notably better in MDADI and the SWALQOL hence a cut off of below 70 could be regarded as a quick screening tool for swallowing dysfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mersey Deanery, Liverpool, UK

    L. Thomas & S. Tandon

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK

    T. M. Jones

  3. Regional Maxillofacial Unit, University Hospital Aintree, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK

    C. Katre, D. Lowe & S. N. Rogers

  4. Regional Maxillofacial Unit, Edge Hill University, Liverpool, UK

    S. N. Rogers

Authors
  1. L. Thomas
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  2. T. M. Jones
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  3. S. Tandon
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  4. C. Katre
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  5. D. Lowe
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  6. S. N. Rogers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. N. Rogers.

Additional information

This paper has been presented at the North of England spring meeting 2006, Brithish Association of Head and Neck Oncologists spring meeting 2006 and 6th Annual European Congress of Otolaryngological Society 2007.

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Thomas, L., Jones, T.M., Tandon, S. et al. An evaluation of the University of Washington Quality of Life swallowing domain following oropharyngeal cancer. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265 (Suppl 1), 29–37 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0470-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0470-2

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