Quality of life after total laryngectomy

Totalna laringektomija je primarna metoda liječenja pacijenata s dijagnozom uznapredovalog karcinoma larinksa. Nakon totalne laringektomije, pojedinci moraju naučiti novu metodu verbalne komunikacije i nositi se s promjenama u fizičkom izgledu, disanju i gutanju. Važno je identificirati čimbenike koji predviđaju kvalitetu života kako bi se mogli identificirati ciljevi rehabilitacije. Provedena je presječna studija na području Međimurske, Varaždinske i Koprivničko-križevačke županije, u periodu od veljače do travnja 2022. godine. U studiju su bile uključeni samo oni sudionici koji su podvrgnuti totalnoj laringektomiji. Korišten je upitnik koji se sastojao iz tri dijela. Prva četiri pitanja su bila općeg karaktera te su se odnosila na sociodemografske podatke. U drugom dijelu upitnika procjenjivala se kvaliteta života sudionika, a pitanjima u trećem dijelu upitnika ispitivana je pojavnost najčešćih problema i poteškoća nakon totalne laringektomije. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 30 sudionika i svi su bili muškog spola (100%). Najviše sudionika bilo je iz Varaždinske županije te dobi između 61- 70 godina (50%). Prema rezultatima, problemi i poteškoće nakon totalne laringektomije minimalno utječu na kvalitetu života bolesnika. Problemi u fizičkoj domeni izazivaju najviše poteškoća te se može uočiti recipročna povezanost fizičke domene sa psihološkom i socijalnom. Statistički je dokazano da fizičke poteškoće i problemi utječu na sve tri domene, odnosno cjelokupno funkcioniranje sudionika. Nisu uočene značajne promjene u kvaliteti života sudionika nakon totalne laringektomije. Istraživanjem se potvrđuje da je sudionicima očuvana kvaliteta života nakon takvog radikalnog zahvata, ali ostavlja prostora za daljnja istraživanja kako bi se unaprijedila skrb za ovu ranjivu skupinu.Total laryngectomy remains the primary method of treating patients with a diagnosis of advanced laryngeal cancer After total laryngectomy, individuals need to learn a new method of verbal communication and to cope with changes in physical appearance, breathing and ingestion. It is important to identify factors predicting quality of life in order to identify rehabilitation objectives. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Međimurje, Varaždin and Koprivnica-Križevac counties, between February and April 2022. Only participants who underwent total laryngectomy were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of three parts was used. The first four questions were of a general nature and related to socio-demographic data. The quality of life of the participants was assessed in the second part of the questionnaire, and the occurrence of the most common problems and difficulties after total laryngectomy was examined with the questions in the third part of the questionnaire. A total of 30 participants took part in the research. All the respondents were male (100%). Most of the participants were from Varaždin County and aged between 61 and 70 (50%). According to the results, problems and difficulties following total laryngectomy have a minimal impact on patient's quality of life. Problems in the physical domain cause the most difficulties, and the reciprocal connection between the physical domain and the psychological and social can be observed. There is statistical evidence that physical difficulties and problems affect all three domains, that is, the overall functioning of the participants. No significant changes were observed in the participants' quality of life after total laryngectomy. Has been preserved research confirms that the participants' quality of life after such a radical intervention but leaves room for further research in order to improve care for this vulnerable group