Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Maryam Alsadat Hashemipour 1
- . Adeleh Pooyafard 2
- . Nader Navabi 3
- . Shahla Kakoie 3
- . Nazanin Rahbanian 4
1 DDS. MSc. Member of Kerman Social Determinants on Oral Health Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, Professor of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Department of Oral Medicine, Dental School, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
3 DDS. MSc. Member of Kerman Dental and Oral Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, Associate Professor of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4 DDS, Dentist, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The goal of treating cancer patients is to cure the patients and improve their quality
of life (QoL) during their illness. The aim of this research was to assess the QoL in Iranian patients
with head‑and‑neck cancer by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality
of Life Questionnaire‑Head and Neck 35 (EORTC QLQ‑H&N35) and University of Washington Quality
of Life Questionnaire (UW‑QoL).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross‑sectional study, Iranian variation of EORTC QLQ‑H&N35
and UW‑QoL questionnaires was administered to 210 patients with head‑and‑neck cancer. Patients
who visited the Department of Oncology at Omid Hospital in Isfahan, Shafa Hospital in Kerman,
and Emam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran were selected. Kruskal–Wallis test, general linear model
multivariate of variance, multiple regression models, and SPSS version 21 were used for statistical
analysis.
RESULTS: In the present research work, 210 patients with cancer in head and neck were under
investigation, such that 128 patients (61%) were male and 82 patients (39%) were female. Only
the patients with laryngeal cancer scored worse for dyspnea according to the scores from UW‑QoL
questionnaires. There were statistically significant differences for pain, swallowing, social eating,
social contact, speech, taste/smell, and trismus based on the QLQ‑H&N35. Lower QoL was observed
in patients with advanced (Stage III + IV) tumors and treated with radiotherapy plus surgical method.
CONCLUSION: The study showed that quality of life differs due to location of tumor, stage of cancer,
and treatment type.
Keywords
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