Italian multicentre study to validate the Swallowing Outcome After Laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To report the data obtained by translating the Swallowing Outcomes After Laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire in Italian to validate it and offer a valid tool for Italian-speaking patients and clinicians. Methods: A multicentre case-control study was performed between January 1st 2024 and October 1st 2024. In all, 494 patients consecutively treated for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study (group 1). Healthy controls and patients who underwent radiotherapy (group 2) or chemotherapy (group 3) of the head and neck district were the two control groups. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed comparing SOAL scores among the three groups (ANOVA: p < 0.0001); significant differences were observed between group 1 (mean 0.89 +/- 1.31; 95% CI: 0-3) and group 2 (mean 6.78 +/- 4.59; 95% CI: 1-24) (Bonferroni-Holmes [BH] p < 0.01), and group 1 and group 3 (mean 11 +/- 7.47; 95% CI: 0-38) (BH: p 0 < 0.01). Statistically significant differences in the SOAL scores were also identified between group 2 and 3 (BH: p < 0.01). Conclusions: The SOAL questionnaire may be a useful tool to correctly understand patients' concerns for swallowing to promptly and rapidly manage them and improve patient's quality of life.
Authors: Pietro De Luca, Arianna Di Stadio, Gerardo Petruzzi, Matteo Fermi, Luca Gazzini, Alberto Vito Marcuzzo, Nicoletta Gardenal, Teodoro Aragona, Francesca Atturo, Luca de Campora, Alfonso Scarpa, Emilio Avallone, Arianna Caselli, Maria Olive, Francesco Antonio Salzano, Giancarlo Tirelli, Gabriele Molteni, Lazzaro Cassano, Luca Calabrese, Raul Pellini, Livio Presutti, Marco Radici, Angelo Camaioni
Institutions: University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri, Instituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, University of Bologna, Ospedale di Bolzano, Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige, University of Trieste, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Addolorata, University of Salerno
Language: English
Subfield: Speech and Hearing
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $323
OpenAlex ID: W4416913967