Improving quality of life through the routine use of the patient concerns inventory for head and neck cancer patients: main results of a cluster preference randomised controlled trial

Simon Rogers, Christine Allmark, Fazilet Bekiroglu, Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, Gillon Fabbroni, Robert Flavel, Victoria Highet, Michael W S Ho, Gerald M. Humphris, Terry M. Jones, Owais Khattak, Jeffrey Lancaster, Christopher Loh, Derek Lowe, Cher Lowies, Dominic Macareavey, James Moor, T. K. Ong, A Prasal, Nicholas RolandCherith Semple, Lllnos Haf Spenser, Sank Tandon, Steven J Thomas, Andrew Schache, Richard J. Shaw, Anastasios Kanatas

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Abstract

Purpose The patient concerns inventory (PCI) is a prompt list allowing head and neck cancer (HNC) patients to discuss
issues that otherwise might be overlooked. This trial evaluated the effectiveness of using the PCI at routine outpatient clinics
for one year after treatment on health-related QOL (HRQOL).
Methods A pragmatic cluster preference randomised control trial with 15 consultants, 8 ‘using’ and 7 ‘not using’ the PCI
intervention. Patients treated with curative intent (all sites, disease stages, treatments) were eligible.
Results Consultants saw a median (inter-quartile range) 16 (13–26) patients, with 140 PCI and 148 control patients. Of the
pre-specified outcomes, the 12-month results for the mean University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOLv4) socialemotional
subscale score suggested a small clinical effect of intervention of 4.6 units (95% CI 0.2, 9.0), p = 0.04 after full
adjustment for pre-stated case-mix. Results for UW-QOLv4 overall quality of life being less than good at 12 months (primary
outcome) also favoured the PCI with a risk ratio of 0.83 (95% CI 0.66, 1.06) and absolute risk 4.8% (− 2.9%, 12.9%) but
without achieving statistical significance. Other non-a-priori analyses, including all 12 UWQOL domains and at consultant
level also suggested better HRQOL with PCI. Consultation times were unaffected and the number of items selected
decreased over time.
Conclusion This novel trial supports the integration of the PCI approach into routine consultations as a simple low-cost means
of benefiting HNC patients. It adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of patient prompt lists more generally.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3435-3449
Number of pages15
JournalEuropean Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Volume278
Issue number9
Early online date21 Dec 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This trial is funded by the RfPB on behalf of the NIHR (PB-PG-0215-36047). This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG-0215-36047). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. This trial is funded by the RfPB on behalf of the NIHR (PB-PG-0215-36047).

Funding Information:
This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG-0215-36047). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition, this research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) infrastructure at Leeds (DenTCRU|).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Head and neck cancer
  • Patient concerns inventory
  • quality of life
  • patient-reported outcome
  • intervention
  • randomised trial
  • Intervention
  • Randomised trial
  • Patient-reported outcomes
  • Quality of life
  • Humans
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms/therapy
  • Emotions
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Referral and Consultation

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