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Why are head and neck cancer clinicians not measuring quality of life?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2006

H M Mehanna  and
R P Morton
H M Mehanna
Affiliation:
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK
R P Morton
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
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Abstract

Aim: To quantify and qualify the use of quality of life (QOL) measures by head and neck cancer clinicians and to identify any impediments to the use of these measures.

Methods: Questionnaire survey of members of the Australia and New Zealand Head and Neck Society.

Results: One hundred and twenty-eight of 187 (68.5 per cent) responded. Only 43 (34 per cent) had ever used a QOL questionnaire (QLQ), and only 17 (13 per cent) were currently using one. Impediments to QLQ use included clinicians' perceptions that QLQs were too time-consuming and conferred no proven benefit for clinical management. Nevertheless, 113 (88 per cent) respondents indicated willingness to use a minimum core QLQ – for routine clinical use and for research – but indicated a preference for a short (10–15 questions), quick (less than 10 minutes) questionnaire.

Conclusions: Most head and neck cancer clinicians did not use a QOL measure routinely, with impediments to routine use being mainly clinician-based. Most respondents would use a minimum core QOL measure, especially if it were a short, quick consensus questionnaire.

Keywords

Quality of LifeHead and Neck NeoplasmsQuestionnaires
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 120 , Issue 10 , October 2006 , pp. 861 - 864
Copyright
2006 JLO (1984) Limited

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