Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Isfahan Medical School 1027-7595 42 791 2024 12 21 Assessing the Impact of Radiation Therapy-Induced Voice Problems on Quality of Life in Non-Laryngeal Head and Neck Cancer Patients Assessing the Impact of Radiation Therapy-Induced Voice Problems on Quality of Life in Non-Laryngeal Head and Neck Cancer Patients 1002 1010 31350 10.48305/jims.v42.i791.1002 FA Sakineh Bagherzadeh PhD, Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 0000-0002-0844-2159 Daryoush Shahbazi-Gahrouei Professor, Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 0000-0002-8538-1898 Farhad Torabinezhad Association Professor, Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Speech & Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-1580-5920 Journal Article 2024 06 08 <strong>Background:</strong><em> </em>One of the side effects of radiation therapy for non-laryngeal head and neck cancers is laryngeal damage, leading to vocal disorders. Considering the impact of voice on the patient’s quality of life, the long-term follow-up after treatment using a voice handicap index questionnaire is the aim of this study.<br /><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive-analytical study included 30 patients with non-laryngeal head and neck cancers and 30 normal individuals. Specialized examinations have confirmed damage in the larynx. The VHI Questionnaire sub-group scores were assessed at 6 and 24 months post-treatment, along with the voice quality of patients and a control group at 24 months post-treatment. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to assess the relationship between each sub-group of the questionnaire at the two mentioned time points.<br /><strong>Findings:</strong> The patients' examination results revealed a significant decrease in the total questionnaire scores from 19.8 at 6 months to 11.37 at 24 months post-treatment (P < 0.05). The study found no significant difference between the patient and control groups after 24 months (P < 0.05). The questionnaire sub-group scores showed a negative correlation, indicating a trend of decreasing scores at the final follow-up.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study showed that after the treatment, the radiation damage decreased over time and improved the patient's quality of life. <strong>Background:</strong><em> </em>One of the side effects of radiation therapy for non-laryngeal head and neck cancers is laryngeal damage, leading to vocal disorders. Considering the impact of voice on the patient’s quality of life, the long-term follow-up after treatment using a voice handicap index questionnaire is the aim of this study.<br /><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive-analytical study included 30 patients with non-laryngeal head and neck cancers and 30 normal individuals. Specialized examinations have confirmed damage in the larynx. The VHI Questionnaire sub-group scores were assessed at 6 and 24 months post-treatment, along with the voice quality of patients and a control group at 24 months post-treatment. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to assess the relationship between each sub-group of the questionnaire at the two mentioned time points.<br /><strong>Findings:</strong> The patients' examination results revealed a significant decrease in the total questionnaire scores from 19.8 at 6 months to 11.37 at 24 months post-treatment (P < 0.05). The study found no significant difference between the patient and control groups after 24 months (P < 0.05). The questionnaire sub-group scores showed a negative correlation, indicating a trend of decreasing scores at the final follow-up.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study showed that after the treatment, the radiation damage decreased over time and improved the patient's quality of life. https://jims.mui.ac.ir/article_31350_2d02a252e43e9717a88413651fdddf4c.pdf