The Liverpool Oral Rehabilitation Questionnaire: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Oral Medicine
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Existing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires do not specifically address oral rehabilitation needs in head and neck cancer patients.
• Patient-derived outcomes are crucial for evaluating treatment effectiveness and patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot the Liverpool Oral Rehabilitation Questionnaire (LORQ), a novel instrument designed for oral rehabilitation assessment.
• To evaluate the preliminary reliability and validity of the LORQ in head and neck cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• The LORQ, comprising 25 items on oral function and denture satisfaction using a 4-point Likert scale, was administered to 61 patients undergoing oral rehabilitation.
• Patients also completed the University of Washington Head and Neck (UW-QOL) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer H and N (EORTC H and N 35) questionnaires.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed using Kappa coefficients, and correlations with existing questionnaires were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Test-retest data showed moderate to very good agreement for the LORQ items.
• Significant correlations (P < 0.001) were found between LORQ items and those in the UW-QOL and EORTC H and N questionnaires.
• The LORQ distinguished between cancer and non-cancer patient groups undergoing oral rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• The pilot study provides encouraging initial evidence for the LORQ's reliability and validity as a measure of oral rehabilitation in head and neck cancer patients.
• Further research is needed to assess the LORQ's responsiveness to change over time and in response to interventions.