Development and validation of the neck dissection impairment index: a quality of life measure.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To validate a health-related quality-of-life (QOL) instrument for patients following neck dissection and to identify the factors that affect QOL following neck dissection.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional validation study.

SETTING:

The outpatient clinic of a tertiary care cancer center.

PATIENTS:

Convenience sample of 54 patients previously treated for head and neck cancer who underwent a selective neck dissection or modified radical neck dissection (64 total neck dissections). Patients had a minimum postoperative convalescence of 11 months. Thirty-two underwent accessory nerve-sparing modified radical neck dissection, and 32 underwent selective neck dissection.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:

A 10-item, self-report instrument, the Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII), was developed and validated. Reliability was evaluated with test-retest correlation and internal consistency using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. Convergent validity was assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Constant Shoulder Scale, a shoulder function test. Multiple variable regression was used to determine variables that most affected QOL following neck dissection

RESULTS:

The 10-item NDII test-retest correlation was 0.91 (P<.001) with an internal consistency Cronbach alpha coefficient of.95. The NDII correlated with the Constant Shoulder Scale (r = 0.85, P<.001) and with the SF-36 physical functioning (r = 0.50, P<.001) and role-physical functioning (r = 0.60, P<.001) domains. Using multiple variable regression, the variables that contributed most to QOL score were patient's age and weight, radiation treatment, and neck dissection type.

CONCLUSIONS:

The NDII is a valid, reliable instrument for assessing neck dissection impairment. Patient's age, weight, radiation treatment, and neck dissection type were important factors that affect QOL following neck dissection.

• Authors: Rodney J Taylor, Judith C Chepeha, Theodoros N Teknos, Carol R Bradford, Pramod K Sharma, Jeffrey E Terrell, Norman D Hogikyan, Gregory T Wolf, Douglas B Chepeha
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 128 Issue 1 Pg. 44-9 (Jan 2002) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11784253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Validation Study)

Topics

• Aged
• Factor Analysis, Statistical
• Female
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (surgery)
• Health Status Indicators
• Humans
• Lymph Node Excision
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Period
• Quality of Life
• Reproducibility of Results
• Shoulder (physiology)