Patients’ experience of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and their perspective on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires: a qualitative study

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

Table 2 Demographic and clinical characteristics of interviewed patients to be inserted

Characteristic	Total, n (%) N = 14
Gender, n (%)
Male	10 (71)
Female	4 (29)
Age range, years, n (%)^a
< 55	2 (14)
55–64	7 (50)
65–74	3 (21)
75–84	2 (14)
Ethnicity, n (%)
Caucasian or white	14 (100)
Education, n (%)^a
Bachelor/graduate degree or higher	10 (71)
High school diploma or equivalent	3 (21)
Missing data	1 (7)
Work status, n (%)
Full/part- time paid	7 (50)
Retired	4 (29)
Other	3 (21)
Tumour Location, n (%)^a
Oral cavity	6 (43)
Larynx	2 (14)
Oropharynx	3 (21)
Hypopharynx	2 (14)
Nasopharynx	1 (7)
Cancer status, n (%)
Metastatic	10 (71)
Recurrent	4 (29)
Tumour progression during or after treatment
Yes	4 (29)
No	10 (71)
WHO performance status, n (%)^b
0	7 (50)
1	7 (50)
Time since diagnosis, n (%)
3–6 months	1 (7)
Within last 12 months	2 (14)
1–2 years	7 (50)
> 2 years	4 (29)
Treatment history, n (%)
Surgery only	1 (7)
Chemotherapy and radiation	6 (43)
Radiation, chemotherapy and surgery	7 (50)
Additional treatments^c	2 (14)
Comorbidities, n (%)
Hypertension	3 (21)
Heart disease	2 (14)
Respiratory disease	1 (7)
Cancer (other than H&N)	1 (7)
Other	2 (14)

Abbreviations: H&N head and neck. WHO World Health Organization
^aPercentages do not total 100% due to rounding
^bWHO performance status 0 = fully active, able to carry on all pre-disease performance without restriction; WHO performance status 1 = restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature, e.g., light house work, office work)
^cAdditional treatments were: immunotherapy; pembrolizuamb or nivolumab