Background: Head and Neck cancer treatments requiring complex reconstructions affect swallowing, speaking, eating, and socialising. Measurement of treatment success and patient outcomes is challenging. The FACE-Q Head and Neck Cancer Module (FACE-Q), a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), was used for this purpose.
Methods: Patients aged 18 years and above, undergoing major head and neck reconstruction were included with the exception of those that developed metastases or unwilling to participate. In the first phase, patients 12 months or more post-operatively, completed FACE-Q in clinics or via mail. In the second phase, study protocol amended and FACE-Q completed preoperatively, then post-operatively at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Results: 45 patients between March 2021 ““March 2023 underwent major head & neck reconstructions, of which 35 were included. 62.9% males and 37.1% females completed all fourteen scales of the FACE-Q. Patients with oral cavity defects i.e. glossectomy, mandibulectomy and maxillectomy had low scores for eating, oral competency and drooling. Facial appearance scores were better in laryngectomy/pharyngectomy, glossectomy compared with maxillectomy and mandibulectomy.
Conclusion: The FACE-Q outcomes are evident of the resulting psychosocial impact of treatment. Screening and intervention needs can be met by a trained clinical psychologist and a clinical nurse specialist.