Handle-On-QOL: a dedicated quality of life resource following the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer

E G Walshaw; M Smith; A Kanatas; S N Rogers

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.05.013

Handle-On-QOL: a dedicated quality of life resource following the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 Nov;58(9):e25-e32. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.05.013. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Authors

E G Walshaw¹, M Smith², A Kanatas³, S N Rogers⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Leeds, Worsley Building, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. Electronic address: egwalshaw@hotmail.co.uk.
² Liverpool University, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3, UK. Electronic address: mikesmith81293@gmail.com.
³ Leeds Teaching Hospitals and St James Institute of Oncology, Leeds Dental Institute and Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK. Electronic address: anastasios.kanatas@nhs.net.
⁴ Evidence-Based Practice Research Centre (EPRC), Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk L39 4QP; Regional Maxillofacial Unit, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool L9 1AE, UK. Electronic address: SIMONN.ROGERS@aintree.nhs.uk.

PMID: 32891434
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.05.013

Abstract

Measuring quality of life (QOL) after head and neck cancer (HNC), is rapidly becoming the standard of care. The Head and Neck Database Listing Evidence on QOL (Handle-On-QOL) is a dedicated QOL resource that includes articles published from 1982 onwards. The aim of this study was to assess the completeness of Handle-On-QOL, when compared with other non-specific search engines. Six years were selected at random; 1982, 1990, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2016. Four search engines were used (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO). Reporting followed PRISMA methodology. A total of 595 papers were assessed, of which 200 met the inclusion criteria. 186 papers were present on Handle-On-QOL, 243 were found on Handle-On-QOL for these six years, but not identified in the other searches, and 14 were missing from Handle-On-QOL. A search using standard engines generated a large number of irrelevant papers. Handle-On-QOL provides a comprehensive and accurate reflection of articles published using questionnaires to report QOL following HNC. This web-based repository (http://www.handle-on-qol.com) acts as a quick reference point for clinicians and researchers.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer; Patient Reported Outcomes; Questionnaire; Review; quality of life.

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms* / therapy
Humans
Neck
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires