Faculty Collaboration Database

Factors related to dropout in a study of head and neck cancer patients after surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999 Mar;120(3):368-74

Date

03/04/1999

Pubmed ID

10064640

DOI

10.1016/S0194-5998(99)70277-9

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0033046793 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

The extent and nature of dropout was assessed in a longitudinal study whose objective was to define and quantify the functional effects of oral surgical resection and reconstruction on speech and swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer. Of 150 patients who were enrolled to be followed up with speech and swallow assessments for 1 year after surgery, 113 (75%) dropped out and 37 (25%) returned to complete the study at the final 12-month evaluation point. In general, those completing the study had a smaller resection than the patients who dropped out before the 12-month evaluation. Fifty percent of the dropout was accounted for by medical reasons, 23% by administrative reasons, and 27% by patient-specific reasons (i.e., reasons known only to the patient). Analysis of the dropout categories revealed that higher cancer stage, larger volume of resection, and having a flap surgical closure versus a primary closure or skin graft increased a patient's chance of dropping out. A larger volume of resection was also related to an increased chance of being a patient-specific dropout. Patients who reported no or low alcohol usage had a greater chance of completing follow-up than being a patient-specific dropout.

Author List

Colangelo LA, Logemann JA, Rademaker AW, Pauloski BR, Smith CH, McConnel FM, Stein DW, Beery QC, Myers EN, Heiser MA, Cardinale S, Shedd DP

Author

Barbara R. Pauloski PhD, CCC-SLP Associate Professor in the Communication Sciences & Disorders department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alcohol Drinking
Deglutition Disorders
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms
Patient Dropouts
Postoperative Complications
Risk Factors
Skin Transplantation
Speech Disorders
Surgical Flaps