Quality of life tools in head and neck oncology

N Heutte; L Plisson; M Lange; V Prevost; E Babin

doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2013.05.002

Quality of life tools in head and neck oncology

Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2014 Feb;131(1):33-47. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2013.05.002. Epub 2013 Nov 28.

Authors

N Heutte¹, L Plisson², M Lange³, V Prevost³, E Babin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Cancers & prévention, INSERM U1086, université de Caen Basse-Normandie, UFR de Médecine, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14032 Caen cedex 5, France. Electronic address: natacha.heutte@unicaen.fr.
² Service ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, CHU, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen cedex 9, France.
³ Cancers & prévention, INSERM U1086, université de Caen Basse-Normandie, UFR de Médecine, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14032 Caen cedex 5, France.
⁴ Cancers & prévention, INSERM U1086, université de Caen Basse-Normandie, UFR de Médecine, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14032 Caen cedex 5, France; Service ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, CHU, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen cedex 9, France.

PMID: 24291153
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2013.05.002

Abstract

Objective: Quality of life (QoL) is now as much an assessment criterion in clinical trials in head and neck oncology as are survival and response rate. It is therefore important to be able to choose an adapted tool from the wide range of QoL instruments available. The present study presents an inventory of QoL scales validated in their French-language version, to facilitate the selection of appropriate tools showing good psychometric properties.

Materials and methods: QoL scales cited in all 492 French and English language articles published between March 1st, 2006 and April 3rd, 2012, referenced on Medline and retrieved using the keywords "quality of life" AND "head and neck" AND "cancer", were inventoried and classified thematically in a search of the literature.

Results: Ninety QoL scales are presented by theme (ORL oncology, voice, swallowing and mastication, mucosities and xerostomia, etc.), specifying psychometric quality and citation level.

Conclusion: The present report constitutes a guide to selecting QoL tools adapted to head and neck oncology studies.

Keywords: Cancer; Head and neck; Quality of life; Quantitative assessment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms* / complications
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / physiopathology
Humans
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires