1. Adherence to preventive exercises and self-reported swallowing outcomes in post-radiation head and neck cancer patients.
- Author
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Shinn EH, Basen-Engquist K, Baum G, Steen S, Bauman RF, Morrison W, Garden AS, Sheil C, Kilgore K, Hutcheson KA, Barringer D, Yuan Y, and Lewin JS
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Quality of Life, Radiotherapy adverse effects, Self Report, Deglutition, Deglutition Disorders prevention & control, Exercise Therapy methods, Oropharyngeal Neoplasms radiotherapy, Patient Compliance
- Abstract
Background: To reduce the risk of long-term swallowing complications after radiation, swallowing exercises may be helpful. Both the rate of adherence to swallowing exercises and its impact on future swallowing function are unknown., Methods: In all, 109 patients with oropharyngeal cancer beginning radiation were tracked for 2 years to determine adherence to swallowing exercises. Participants completed the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) 1-2 years after treatment, to assess self-reported swallowing function. Adherence, demographics, tumor, and treatment variables were multivariably regressed onto the MDADI physical subscale score., Results: In accord with speech pathologist documentation, 13% of the participants were fully adherent and 32% were partially adherent. Adherence was associated with the Physical MDADI Subscale score in the multivariate model (p = .01)., Conclusions: The majority of patients with head and neck cancer are nonadherent to swallowing exercise regimens and may benefit from supportive care strategies to optimize their adherence., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2013
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