Suitability of the Patient Concerns Inventory as a holistic screening tool in routine head and neck cancer follow-up clinics

In patients with cancer of the head and neck, efficient screening for problems can improve care and the management of resources. We explored use of the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI-HN) as a holistic screening tool in the follow up of these patients. Between August 2007 and January 2013, 464 patients completed the PCI-HN and the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire version 4 (UWQoL) immediately before their routine follow-up consultations. The median (IQR) number of items selected on the inventory was 3 (1-6). This was associated (p < 0.001) with the number of serious problems (dysfunction) in the 12 UWQoL domains (Spearman's correlation, rs = 0.51), overall QoL (rs = -0.41), and the 2 UWQoL subscale scores of physical (rs = -0.46) and social-emotional (rs = -0.53) function. Binary regression to predict an overall outcome of “less than good” indicated that use of the PCI could be better than just recording clinical characteristics. Some patients however, chose few PCI items and had numerous problems. The inventory may have a role in the screening of patients with cancer of the head and neck, particularly in relation to social-emotional function and overall QoL, and may have added value when used with the UWQoL-v4. The total number of PCI items selected is a useful predictor of QoL. Further research is required to confirm suitable limits, and to find out whether additional support and repeated use of the inventory over time improve QoL.