Will measuring quality of life in head and neck cancer alter individuals' treatment?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the ways in which quality of life assessment has been and can be used in the future to benefit patient care. RECENT FINDINGS: Quality of life has to date been used as an outcome measure, mainly in a research setting when comparing two interventions. This has led to a better understanding of quality of life changes during the patient journey, enabling better information provision to patients. In future, quality of life assessment will be incorporated into routine clinical practice in a quality of life-driven head and neck cancer clinic. Routine quality of life assessment, possibly in automated electronic (touch-screen) format, may be used to screen patients for quality of life problems. Such assessments could be used in a timely fashion by the clinician to instigate interventions such as psychological counselling and pain control, thereby resulting in improvements in patients' overall quality of life. SUMMARY: Quality of life assessment has contributed to patient benefit. However, its full and greater potential remains untapped, although it is beginning to be addressed by current research.