Italian multicentre study to validate the Swallowing Outcome After Laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Oncology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Laryngectomy significantly impacts swallowing function.
• Validated tools are essential for assessing post-laryngectomy swallowing outcomes.
• The Swallowing Outcomes After Laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire requires translation and validation for Italian-speaking populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate and validate the Swallowing Outcomes After Laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire into Italian.
• To provide a reliable tool for assessing swallowing difficulties in Italian patients post-laryngectomy.
• To facilitate better management of swallowing concerns and improve patient quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre case-control study was conducted.
• 494 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were included.
• Comparison groups included healthy controls and patients who received radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences in SOAL scores were found among the three groups (ANOVA: p < 0.0001).
• Significant differences were observed between the laryngectomy group and both radiotherapy (BH p < 0.01) and chemotherapy (BH p < 0.01) groups.
• Significant differences were also identified between the radiotherapy and chemotherapy groups (BH p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• The validated Italian SOAL questionnaire is a useful tool for assessing swallowing concerns.
• Prompt management of swallowing issues can be facilitated by the SOAL questionnaire.
• Improved understanding of patient concerns can lead to enhanced quality of life.