Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: October | Volume: 5 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 241-249
Evaluation of Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Vinodkumar Mugada1, Raj Kiran Kolakota2, Sravani Reddy Karri3, Tejasree Karineedi3, Faizul Ikram3
1Assistant Professor, 2Professor,
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Vignan Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Duvvada, AP, India.
3Pharm. D Intern, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Aditya Pharmacy College, Surampalem, AP, India.
Corresponding Author: Vinodkumar Mugada
ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to evaluate the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients receiving treatment. This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out for the duration of 9 months. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 Items (EORTC QLQ-C30) including the H&N-35 module for assessing QOL is used. The comparison was made between specific socio-demographic and clinical characteristics with domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and EORTC QLQ H&N35. Non-parametric tests and Spearman’s Correlation were employed as part of statistical analysis. The level of significance was taken at p<0.05. The mean age of the patients was 55.18±13.62 years. The age group of 41-60 years is highly affected (52.08%). Males are more affected than their counterparts (64.58%). Uneducated is high in number (75%). Patients suffering from oral cavity type of head and neck cancer are high in number (52.08%). Stage III cancer patients are high in number (61.45%). Majority of patients are receiving chemo-radiotherapy (34.37%) as the treatment of the disease. There was a statistically highly significant association between gender and physical functioning (p=0.008) and the statistically significant association between gender and emotional functioning (p=0.035). In table 4, there was a statistically highly significant association between tumor location and pain (p= 0.002), opening mouth (p=0.000). There was a statistically significant association between tumor location and speech problems (p=0.036), coughing (p=0.044).
Key words: Quality of life, head and neck cancer, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ H&N35.
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