J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2017 Jun;41(2):110-115. 10.11149/jkaoh.2017.41.2.110.

A study on oral health-related quality of life following radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer

• Sohn HO
• Park EY
• Jung YS
• Lee EK
• Lee HK
• Kim EK

• KMID: 2389095
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2017.41.2.110

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to assess the change in oral health-related quality of life among patients with head & neck cancer who received radiotherapy.
METHODS
A total of 40 patients who were diagnosed as having head and neck cancer and scheduled to have radiotherapy were enrolled in this study; however, only 25 patients were included in the final analysis. Prior to radiotherapy, a dentist performed an oral examination to check for the presence of decayed and missing teeth, plaque, and determine the gingival index. Oral health-related quality of life was assessed using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Eight weeks after starting radiotherapy, oral health-related quality of life was re-evaluated using the same questionnaire.
RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 60.20 (±7.29) years, and 22 (88.8%) of them were men. The majority of the participants were diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma (68.0%). The total OHIP-14 score was significantly decreased from 56.20 (±13.50) at baseline to 45.72 (±10.98) eight weeks after radiotherapy. In addition, according to subjective oral health at baseline, the observed change in the OHIP-14 score was significantly different.
CONCLUSIONS
Oral health-related quality of life was significantly lowered after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

Keyword

Head & Neck Cancer; Oral Health Related Quality of Life; Radiotherapy

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Dentists
Diagnosis, Oral
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Head*
Humans
Male
Oral Health
Periodontal Index
Quality of Life*
Radiotherapy*
Tooth

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