Multidisciplinary team perspectives on the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients at two years

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which core members of the head and neck (H&N) multidisciplinary team (MDT) used health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data and to assess their familiarity with specific HRQoL outcomes for different groups of H&N cancer patients
Methods: A survey was undertaken of members of the H&N MDT in the Merseyside Regional Head and Neck Cancer Centre, including consultants, clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals, as to their views on patient-reported outcomes for 8 common clinical scenarios following treatment for H&N cancer
Results: The response rate was 63% (17/27), of which 71% were using HRQoL data. There was a wide scatter of estimates of patient-reported outcome from the participants within each scenario for each domain. There were no notable differences between consultants and others. In regard to speech, saliva and swallowing there was a tendency for participants to estimate worse outcome for patients than reported by patients themselves
Conclusions: Although most clinicians use HRQoL data, this is for research purposes, rather than as part of patient information. HRQoL data can be used to allow the clinicians to include more accurate information in discussions with patients and carers, but it is important to remember that individual HRQoL outcomes can differ. There is scope for further study to explore the decision-making process for treatment modalities with equivalent survival, both from the MDT perspective and the patient perspective.