Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30148250›Full record

ArticleJournal of patient-reported outcomes2017

Patients' experience of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and their perspective on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires: a qualitative study.

Arnold Degboe, Sarah L Knight, Katarina Halling, Andrew Trigg, Tamara Al-Zubeidi, Natalie Aldhouse, Helen Kitchen, Lori Wirth, Simon N Rogers

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of patient-reported outcomes, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Understanding data visualization techniques in qualitative studies used to develop and validate patient-reported outcome measures: a targeted literature review.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Arnold Degboe1AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD USA.
Sarah L KnightDRG Abacus, Bicester, UK.
Katarina Halling3AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Andrew TriggDRG Abacus, Manchester, UK.
Tamara Al-ZubeidiDRG Abacus, Bicester, UK.
Natalie AldhouseDRG Abacus, Manchester, UK.
Helen KitchenDRG Abacus, Manchester, UK.
Lori Wirth5Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA.
Simon N Rogers6Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its associated treatments may affect all aspects of patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 is regularly administered to patients with HNSCC, there is a paucity of studies re-assessing the conceptual relevance of this patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure from a patient perspective. Furthermore, the content validity of the EORTC QLQ-C30 has not been widely documented in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC. The objectives of this study were to understand patients' experiences of recurrent/metastatic HNSCC and its treatments, and to evaluate the conceptual relevance and acceptability of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 from a patient perspective for use in clinical trials.

methodsA literature review and clinician interviews were conducted to inform in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews with US patients who had received treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC in the preceding 12 months. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti v7; patient quotes were coded to identify concepts and themes to develop a conceptual model of HNSCC experience.

resultsFourteen patients were interviewed (71% male, aged 35-84 years). Patients reported few symptoms pre-diagnosis including neck lump/swelling (

conclusionsHNSCC and its diverse symptoms and treatments have a negative impact on many aspects of patients' lives. A number of reported symptoms including difficulty speaking and swallowing, localised pain and fatigue may be important for treatment benefit evaluation in clinical trials from a patient perspective. The QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 are generally relevant and suitable for use in clinical trials. However, some items could be amended/added to ensure conceptual comprehensiveness of these measures.

Indexed as

Disease conceptual modelEORTC QLQ-C30EORTC QLQ-H&N35Head and neck cancerHNSCCOncologyPatient reported outcomeQualitative interviews

Identifiers

PMID30148250
PMCPMC6092741

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.