Table 3.
Changes of EORTC QLQ-H&N35 scores, mean (SE).
| Experimental group (n = 31) | Control group (n = 30) | P | |||||||
| Before radiotherapy | Immediate after radiotherapy | 3 months after radiotherapy | 6 months after radiotherapy | Before radiotherapy | Immediate after radiotherapy | 3 months after radiotherapy | 6 months after radiotherapy | ||
| Pain | 19.57 (18.35) | 49.24 (26.09) | 24.88 (21.33) | 16.67 (8.74) | 18.52 (13.82) | 46.82 (32.77) | 21.62 (18.91) | 26.23 (28.65) | .328 |
| Swallowing | 19.05 (23.10) | 47.34 (27.07) | 18.11 (21.53) | 13.23 (12.88) | 12.04 (15.80) | 34.12 (32.96) | 21.62 (16.15) | 22.43 (26.80) | .035 |
| Senses problems | 14.28 (23.15) | 46.97 (21.60) | 27.53 (17.84) | 16.67 (16.67) | 13.89 (24.07) | 59.52 (30.46) | 32.61 (23.29) | 29.01 (29.45) | .251 |
| Speech problems | 17.57 (21.58) | 36.36 (26.15) | 14.49 (20.50) | 12.70 (15.43) | 18.83 (20.71) | 27.78 (31.04) | 27.02 (24.98) | 29.22 (29.09) | .034 |
| Social eating | 23.90 (28.03) | 39.01 (17.51) | 15.15 (14.69) | 20.24 (21.34) | 19.44 (25.59) | 42.26 (35.27) | 29.71 (21.44) | 37.03 (34.15) | .064 |
| Social contact | 15.66 (20.63) | 27.27 (26.50) | 8.55 (12.34) | 13.65 (19.26) | 19.63 (23.25) | 23.33 (31.78) | 19.70 (22.30) | 26.17 (31.64) | .470 |
| Less sexuality | 20.24 (32.20) | 38.59 (31.94) | 12.32 (16.06) | 15.87 (17.85) | 12.38 (17.78) | 27.38 (35.57) | 23.48 (27.53) | 29.48 (34.09) | .005 |
| Teeth | 27.90 (31.64) | 30.16 (29.63) | 26.08 (28.35) | 23.81 (30.08) | 37.14 (36.84) | 30.95 (27.62) | 39.39 (40.67) | 38.46 (34.88) | .672 |
| Opening mouth | 24.03 (33.59) | 43.94 (40.35) | 23.19 (32.46) | 25.39 (31.45) | 25.92 (32.96) | 33.33 (32.02) | 34.85 (34.85) | 48.71 (35.56) | .062 |
| Dry mouth | 31.74 (30.31) | 57.57 (31.17) | 49.27 (24.35) | 53.96 (28.82) | 33.33 (29.81) | 59.52 (32.50) | 65.21 (29.26) | 51.85 (31.12) | .347 |
| Sticky saliva | 23.01 (29.89) | 61.90 (26.42) | 43.47 (23.43) | 44.44 (33.88) | 22.22 (26.42) | 45.23 (42.58) | 49.27 (29.93) | 39.50 (30.71) | .217 |
| Coughing | 20.15 (23.16) | 37.88 (29.63) | 20.29 (24.07) | 25.39 (29.63) | 19.44 (18.47) | 43.59 (39.40) | 20.29 (19.43) | 18.52 (26.69) | .683 |
| Weight loss | 51.16 (50.58) | 54.55 (50.96) | 30.43 (47.05) | 33.33 (48.30) | 41.18 (49.96) | 50.00 (51.89) | 50.00 (51.18) | 44.44 (50.64) | .384 |
| Weight gain | 13.95 (35.06) | 23.81 (43.64) | 42.86 (50.71) | 28.57 (46.29) | 14.29 (35.50) | 21.43 (42.58) | 19.05 (40.24) | 22.22 (42.37) | .462 |
| Nutritional supplements | 34.88 (48.22) | 22.73 (42.89) | 47.83 (51.08) | 52.38 (51.18) | 34.29 (48.16) | 35.71 (49.72) | 27.27 (45.58) | 29.63 (46.53) | .332 |
| Feeding tube | 16.28 (37.35) | 9.52 (30.08) | 8.70 (28.81) | 4.76 (21.82) | 17.14 (38.24) | 15.38 (37.55) | 4.55 (21.32) | 14.81 (36.20) | .734 |
| Pain killers | 55.81 (50.25) | 54.55 (50.96) | 26.09 (44.90) | 9.52 (30.08) | 60.00 (49.71) | 50.00 (51.89) | 27.27 (45.58) | 44.44 (50.64) | .060 |
| Felt ill | 21.43 (30.19) | 33.33 (32.53) | 17.39 (22.18) | 12.70 (16.59) | 16.67 (23.23) | 38.46 (35.60) | 19.70 (24.47) | 25.92 (33.75) | .302 |