Quality of life assessment after microvascular head and neck reconstruction: a systematic review of available tools

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to appraise the quality and psychometric properties of quality of life (QOL) assessment tools used after microsurgical reconstruction for head and neck cancers. A systematic review of QOL assessment tools used in head and neck cancer patients after microsurgical reconstruction was performed; emphasis was placed on psychometric properties and validity. Fifty-four studies published between January 2010 and February 2023 fulfilled the criteria; in these, twenty-three different QOL assessment tools were identified. The most commonly used instrument was the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck version (EORTC-H&N). No assessment tool fulfilled all the quality criteria; no single tool presented evidence from all the components of validity. Almost all reported reliability coefficients were above 0.7; most papers reported an internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach’s alpha) for the global score. The array of available tools allows for the choice of the most appropriate one depending on the context faced by the clinician or researcher.