[Quality of life following laryngectomy]

To assess the quality of life and relevant factors following laryngectomy.

Quality of life was evaluated in 42 laryngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer patients following laryngectomy and in 38 controls. The assessment included General Quality of Life Inventory, University of Washington Quality of Life Head and Neck Questionnaire and a study specific questionnaire.

The laryngectomized patients reported significant lower scores of quality of life than the controls in many aspects of physical health, psychological health and social function dimensions. For patients, the most important dimension affecting quality of life was psychological condition, and the others were physical function, social function, and economic condition in turn; while for the controls, they were of opposite order. The significant factors affecting quality of life in patients following total laryngectomy were their concern about prognosis, disfigurement, decannulation, employment, speech and breathing conditions. The most important factor affecting psychological condition was physical function, while psychological condition was the most important factor affecting social function. Items ranked in the top five included those related to physical function, economic condition, psychological condition, social situation and social communication.

More attention should be paid to research about quality of life. The quality of life of patients undergone laryngectomy is affected by many factors. Through the integration of psychological, clinical and social interventions, the quality of life of patients may have an overall improvement.