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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1707-1712 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2013 |
Keywords
- adherence
- dysphagia
- exercises
- oropharyngeal cancer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology
MD Anderson CCSG core facilities
- Assessment, Intervention, and Measurement
- Biostatistics Resource Group
- Clinical Trials Office