文摘
This study aimed to evaluate, prospectively, the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer.Study DesignA quantitative, longitudinal, and prospective study was conducted. The survey instrument was the University of Washington quality of life questionnaire. The sample consisted of 47 patients. For data analysis, paired t test, McNemar test, Student t test, and 1-way analysis of variance tests were used. The significance level was 5% (P < .05).ResultsMood (68.89 ± 35.41) and anxiety (70.22 ± 32.99) domains were the most affected at the time of diagnosis. Chewing (71.11 ± 39.15) and speech (76.22 ± 33.72) domains were the most affected in the revaluation of the questionnaire, after 3 months. In the temporal assessment of the domains at diagnosis and after 3 months, it was observed that domains that improved quality of life were pain (P = .013) and mood (P = .039). Swallowing (P = .017), chewing (P = .024), speech (P = .048), and saliva (P = .004) domains produced a worse quality of life.ConclusionsThe parameters that influence quality of life differ when the the University of Washington quality of life questionnaire is applied at the time of diagnosis and 3 months after diagnosis.
