Treatment Patterns and Survival Among Low-Income Medicaid Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract Objective: Assessing swallowing function using symptom-specific questionnaires on head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and supporting impaired swallowing to improve quality of life (QoL) of patients is recommended in different studies. However, there is no data that shows the effect of dysphagia on quality of life of Ethiopian patients. Hence, this study assessed the effect of dysphagia on quality of life domains of the MD Anderson Dysphagia inventory (MDADI) among head and neck cancer patients.Results: The study sample consisted of mostly male (53.90%), employed (70.6%), single (57.80 %) and completed some level of formal education (66.60 %) with mean age of 42.58 years (SD ± 14.08 years) and medical expense for about 69.6% of patients was covered by the government. Most of the patients were suffering from advanced stage HNC (59.80%) and squamous cell carcinoma (62.70%) and the most prevalent tumor location was nasal cavity/ nasopharyngeal carcinoma (40.20%). The mean MDADI composite score was 53.29 (SD± 15.85). Being female, low income, suffering from laryngeal/ hypo pharyngeal cancer, suffering from advanced tumor and those undergoing a single modality therapy were key determinants of poor QoL related to swallowing problems in HNC patients.

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Trends in chemoradiation use in elderly patients with head and neck cancer: Changing treatment patterns with cetuximab

Head & Neck ◽

10.1002/hed.23961 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 (S1) ◽

pp. E165-E171 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Shrujal S. Baxi ◽

Caitriona O'Neill ◽

Eric J. Sherman ◽

Coral L. Atoria ◽

Nancy Y. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Treatment Patterns

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Dysphagia and its impact on the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients: institution-based cross-sectional study

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-020-05440-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tseganesh Asefa Yifru ◽

Sezer Kisa ◽

Negalign Getahun Dinegde ◽

Niguse Tadele Atnafu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Low Income ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Swallowing Problems

Abstract Objective Impaired swallowing is a primary medical concern in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Swallowing therapy and supportive care to relieve swallowing problems among HNC patients are recommended. However, no data shows the effect of dysphagia on the quality of life (QoL) among Ethiopian patients. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess swallowing function and its impact on QoL. Results The sample included 102 HNC patients who visited oncology clinics at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Majority were male (53.90%), employed (70.6%), single (57.80%), and completed some level of formal education (66.60%) with a mean age of 42.58 years (SD ± 14.08). More than half of the patients (69.6%) medical expenses were covered by the government. Most were suffering from advanced stage HNC (59.80%), squamous cell carcinoma (62.70%), and the most prevalent tumor location was nasopharynx (40.20%). The mean MDADI score was 53.29 (SD ± 15.85). Being female, low income, suffering from laryngeal cancer, advanced tumor, and undergoing a single modality therapy were crucial determinants of poor QoL related to swallowing problems. It is recommended to assess swallowing related QoL of patients using a validated tool and be included in treatment protocols.

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