IMPACT OF A LARYNGECTOMY ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE - PERSPECTIVE OF THE PATIENT VERSUS THAT OF THE HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER

This study retrospectively assesses the impact of laryngectomy on the quality of life of 46 patients as compared to the perception of the im pact of laryngectomy of 13 health care providers (HCPs). Employing the ''time trade-off' methodology, we assessed patient and HCP preference s and calculated estimated utilities. We found that 20% of patients wo uld be willing to compromise anticipated life expectancy to preserve v oice or preoperative quality of life. By comparison, 46% of the HCPs p erceived that their patients would be willing to accept a reduced life span in order to preserve their larynx and quality of life. In conclu sion, the percentage of HCPs who believed their patients would comprom ise survival was substantially higher than the percentage of actual pa tients who expressed this preference. This perception may influence ph ysicians' attitudes toward recommending laryngeal preservation therapy for their patients. For most laryngectomy patients, treatments attemp ting laryngeal preservation, particularly if associated with compromis ed survival, may not be warranted.