Impact of a laryngectomy on quality of life: Perspective of the patient versus that of the health care provider

Randal A. Otto, Valerie Lawrence, Robert A Dobie, Connie Sakai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study retrospectively assesses the impact of laryngectomy on the quality of life of 46 patients as compared to the perception of the impact of laryngectomy of 13 health care providers (HCPs). Employing the 'time trade- off' methodology, we assessed patient and HCP preferences and calculated estimated utilities. We found that 20% of patients would be willing to compromise anticipated life expectancy to preserve voice or preoperative quality of life. By comparison, 46% of the HCPs perceived that their patients would be willing to accept a reduced life span in order to preserve their larynx and quality of life. In conclusion, the percentage of HCPs who believed their patients would compromise survival was substantially higher than the percentage of actual patients who expressed this preference. This perception may influence physicians' attitudes toward recommending laryngeal preservation therapy for their patients. For must laryngectomy patients, treatments attempting laryngeal preservation, particularly if associated with compromised survival, may not be warranted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)693-699
Number of pages7
JournalAnnals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
Volume106
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

Keywords

  • Laryngectomy
  • Quality of life
  • Time trade-off

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of a laryngectomy on quality of life: Perspective of the patient versus that of the health care provider'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this