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Effects of a swallowing exercise education program on dysphagia-specific health-related quality of life in oral cavity cancer patients post-treatment: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a swallowing exercise education program (SEEP) on swallowing ability, depression, and dysphagia-specific health-related quality of life (QOL) in oral cavity cancer (OCC) patients.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized controlled study with two groups using a pre- and post-repeated measures design. A total of 76 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 38) and a control group (n = 38). The experimental group participated in a SEEP and the control group received normal care. Patients were assessed at five time points: baseline assessment (T0) and then 1, 2, 3, and 6-months (T1, T2, T3, and T4) after participating in the SEEP or receiving normal care.

Results

Patients in the experimental group had significantly greater emotional dysphagia QOL compared to those in the control group. In the experimental group, post-education (T4) depression was better than baseline (T0). For both groups, functional dysphagia QOL and physical dysphagia QOL were greatest at T0, decreased from T1 to T2, and slightly decreased at T3 and T4. There were no differences between the groups and within the groups with respect to dysphagia-specific health-related QOL, global dysphagia QOL, functional dysphagia QOL, and physical dysphagia QOL.

Conclusions

The SEEP was effective in improving emotional dysphagia QOL during the initial 6 months after treatment of patients with OCC.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the patients who participated in the study. The authors also thank Dr. Richard Sandore for the assistance with English editing.

Funding

This study was supported by grants (MOST 103-2314-B-255-004 and MOST 104-2314-B-255-002) from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CMRPF1F0111, NMRPF3D0161, and NMRPF3E0171) Research Program in Taiwan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, 261, Wen-Hua 1st Road, Kweishan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan

    Shu-Ching Chen

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Proton and Radiation Therapy Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Shu-Ching Chen, Bing-Shen Huang, Chien-Yu Lin, Kang-Hsing Fan, Joseph Tung-Chien Chang & Shu-Chen Wu

  3. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Bing-Shen Huang, Chien-Yu Lin, Kang-Hsing Fan & Joseph Tung-Chien Chang

  4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chia-Yin Chung

  5. Graduate Institute and Department of Physical Therapy, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chia-Yin Chung

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  1. Shu-Ching Chen
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Correspondence to Shu-Ching Chen.

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The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chang Gung Medical Foundation Institutional Review Board in Taiwan, and a permission certificate was obtained (Number: 102-4368B).

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Chen, SC., Huang, BS., Chung, CY. et al. Effects of a swallowing exercise education program on dysphagia-specific health-related quality of life in oral cavity cancer patients post-treatment: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 26, 2919–2928 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4148-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4148-7

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