Impact of dysphagia on quality of life after treatment of head neck cancer in Bangladesh

Abstract

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Title: Impact of Dysphagia on Quality of Life after Treatment of Head Neck Cancer in Bangladesh. The aim of the study is to find out the impact of dysphagia on quality of life among the people with head and neck cancer following radiotherapy, chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in specialized hospital in Bangladesh. To know the functional, physical and emotional impacts of dysphagia on quality of life. The study is based on a quantitative type of cross sectional survey design paradigm. 10 samples were selected using a purposive (non-probability) sampling technique in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bangla translated M.D.Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed by Descriptive statistics and presented in a table and bar graph. In this study investigator identified that most of the people with dysphagia had difficulties in emotional and physical areas. According to this study maximum number of participants had difficulties in functional area. 60% of participants mentioned that they feel embarrassed for their swallowing problem. 90% of participants told that they have low self-esteem because of their swallowing problem. 50% of participants stated about their impact on day to day activities. 50% of participants reported that swallowing problems limit social and personal life. 60% of participants mentioned that they limit their food intake because of their swallowing difficulty. The findings with this small group of people with severe dysphagia after taking chemo radio therapy treatment of HNC suggest that their quality of life is severely compromised. Swallowing is the most important concern in human life to live a sound life. Sometimes this swallowing process becomes difficult and hard to survive. Swallowing related quality of life and the aspects of QOL related to emotional area, functional area and physical area are significantly worse of people with head and neck cancer. Speech & Language Therapist can improve the quality of life through exploring the underlying fact of those types of patients who suffer from swallowing problem.