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Original Article

Vanderbilt head and neck symptom survey version 2.0: Report of the development and initial testing of a subscale for assessment of oral health†

  1. Emily Cooperstein BA1,
  2. Jill Gilbert MD2,
  3. Joel B. Epstein DMD, MSD3,
  4. Mary S. Dietrich PhD4,5,
  5. Stewart M. Bond RN, PhD5,
  6. Sheila H. Ridner RN, PhD5,
  7. Nancy Wells RN, PhD5,
  8. Anthony Cmelak MD6,
  9. Barbara A. Murphy MD2,*

Article first published online: 24 AUG 2011

DOI: 10.1002/hed.21816

Issue

Head & Neck

Head & Neck

Volume 34, Issue 6, pages 797–804, June 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cooperstein, E., Gilbert, J., Epstein, J. B., Dietrich, M. S., Bond, S. M., Ridner, S. H., Wells, N., Cmelak, A. and Murphy, B. A. (2012), Vanderbilt head and neck symptom survey version 2.0: Report of the development and initial testing of a subscale for assessment of oral health. Head Neck, 34: 797–804. doi: 10.1002/hed.21816

Author Information

  1. 1

    Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

  2. 2

    Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee

  3. 3

    Departments of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

  4. 4

    Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee

  5. 5

    Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee

  6. 6

    Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee

*Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee

  1. †

    This work was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2010 annual meeting in Patient and Survivor Care poster session under title “Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey version 2.0 (VHNSS 2.0): A Tool for Study of Long-term Oral Health Consequences of Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer (HNC).” For a copy of the VHNSS 2.0, please contact the corresponding author.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 MAY 2012
  2. Article first published online: 24 AUG 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 4 APR 2011
  4. Manuscript Revised: 8 FEB 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 30 NOV 2010

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Keywords:

  • head and neck cancer;
  • toxicities;
  • oral health;
  • swallowing;
  • dental;
  • patient outcomes

Abstract

Background

The prevalence, severity, and functional implications of adverse oral health outcomes attributed to head and neck cancer therapy are largely undefined. We report development of an oral health outcome subscale for the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey (VHNSS).

Methods

Oral health outcome questions were formulated through literature review and consultation with an expert panel. Questions were incorporated into the VHNSS resulting in a 50-item survey, scored 0 (none) to 10 (severe). The tool was administered to 70 subjects who completed radiation to assess for feasibility.

Results

Patient acceptance was high with a completion time <10 minutes. A full range of scores was noted for 46 of 50 questions. Oral health symptom burden was high early and late posttreatment.

Conclusions

The VHNSS version 2.0 was feasible and could be completed in a timely manner. Validation studies are ongoing. The high prevalence of adverse oral health outcomes warrants further study. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011

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