Patients response using freetext in the University of Washington Quality of Life Scale

Background. The University of Washington Quality of Life Scale is the only validated head-and-neck-specific questionnaire that invites patients to write comments in the form of freetext. Freetext allows the questionnaire to record issues raised by the patient.

Method. Two hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients treated between 1995 and 1999 by primary surgery for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma completed the UWQOL. Freetext from these patients was independently assessed by the authors.

Results. Comments were made by 61% of patients at some time. Completion was independent of clinicodemographic characteristics. Comments were predominantly head and neck (39%) and medical (35%). In 55% of cases, the overall tone was negative. Around a quarter of issues was not part of a validated health-related quality-of-life questionnaire.

Conclusions. Freetext gives the multidisciplinary team a better insight into the concerns of the patient and can be used to promote a holistic approach. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.