Background: Head and neck malignancies are the sixth most frequent type of cancer. Dysphagia
is one of the most frequent complications that affect patients’ quality of life. Swallowing exercises
could improve dysphagia and quality of life. Aim: Is to explore the effectiveness of swallowing
exercises on dysphagia and quality of life among patients with head and neck cancer. Research
design: A quasi-experimental (study/control group) design was used in two settings (radiotherapy
unit and clinical oncology department) Zagazig University Hospital, Sharkiya, Governorate, Egypt.
A purposeful sample of 80 patients from both genders diagnosed head and neck cancer, patients
were assigned into two equal groups (study and control group), 40 patients for each group from
the mentioned settings within eight months period were included in the study. Tools: Tool (I):
Patients’ assessment questionnaire; (II) Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ);(III)
Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) Scale; and (IV) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30).
Results: patients’ level of knowledge about head and neck cancer improved from 27.5% among
the study group before intervention to 75.0% after four months of swallowing exercises
implementation compared to the control group. The mean score of swallowing disturbances
questionnaire were 32.40±4.77 among the study group before swallowing exercise implementation
and declined after 4 months to 17.05±1.64 compared to the control group. The mean of total
dysphagia handicap scores before swallowing exercise implementation was 137.5 ± 15.33 for the
study group, while, after 4 months declined to 60.77 ± 20.148 compared to the control group.
Mean of total health related quality of life scores before swallowing exercise implementation was
87.42 ± 19.53 for swallowing exercise group and 48.25 ± 22.14 after 4 months compared to the
control group. Conclusion: swallowing exercise had decreased swallowing disturbances,
dysphagia and improved quality of life among patients with head and neck cancer.
Recommendations: Encourage patients with head and neck cancer to perform swallowing
exercise continually. |
