Prospective Evaluation of Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Primary Surgery for Oral Cancer: Preoperative and Postoperative Analysis

Viana, Thales Salles Angelim; Silva, Paulo Goberlânio De Barros; Pereira, Karuza Maria Alves; Mota, Mario Rogério Lima; Alves, Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes; De Souza, Eric Fernandes; Sousa, Fabricio Bitu

doi:10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.8.2093

Prospective Evaluation of Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Primary Surgery for Oral Cancer: Preoperative and Postoperative Analysis

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Rua Alexandre Baraúna 949, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

² Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Campus Sobral, Rua Coronel Estanislau, Center, Sobral, Ceará, Brazil.

³ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Haroldo Juaçaba Hospital – Ceará Cancer Institute, Rua Papi Júnior 1222, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.8.2093

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare the preoperative and postoperative health related quality of life (HRQoL) of a sample of patients undergoing primary surgery for oral cancer in 2012-13. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study of 54 patients in a Brazilian population was performed. HRQoL was measured preoperatively (after histopathological diagnosis) and postoperatively (2 months after surgery) using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL). Clinicopathological, sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected. Results: Surgery had a negative impact on most HRQoL domains, but pain, mood and anxiety scores were significantly improved. Most patients rated their health-related and overall postoperative HRQoL as good or very good. Conclusions: The UW-QOL was efficient at measuring HRQoL in our sample of patients with oral cancer. Surgery had a negative impact on HRQoL, especially due to sequelae affecting the stomatognathic system, yet patients classified their postoperative health-related and overall QoL as positive. Qualitative studies are necessary for confirmation of our results and further exploration.

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