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Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the effects of voice rehabilitation on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and voice function in patients treated for laryngeal cancer six months post-rehabilitation completion. A secondary aim was to identify factors that predict significant communication improvement.
Study design: Longitudinal follow-up of randomised controlled trial.
Methods: In total, 33 patients received voice rehabilitation post-radiotherapy and 32 patients constituted the control group. Outcome measures included patient-reported HRQL, communication and voice function (acoustic measures and perceptual analysis). Outcome measures were analysed one (baseline), six and 12 months post-radiotherapy, where voice rehabilitation was conducted between the first two time-points.
Results: Patients improved after voice rehabilitation with regard to communication function and HRQL and remained unchanged after 12 months post-radiotherapy. A significant roughness deterioration in the control group occurred between six and 12 months post-radiotherapy, yet remained unchanged in the intervention group. A factors increasing odds of significant communication improvement 12 months post-radiotherapy was voice rehabilitation. Smoking affected communication negatively.
Conclusion: Voice rehabilitation appears to have positive effect on voice function and HRQL, which persist up to 12 months of follow-up and appears to prevent deterioration of perceived roughness. Patients who experience voice and communication problems at baseline are most likely to benefit from voice rehabilitation.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no declarations of interest.