Browsing by Author "Freitas, Susana Vaz"
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- Body image concerns in people who underwent a total laryngectomyPublication . Guimarães, Isabel; Torrejano, Gabriela; Aires, Raquel; Gonçalves, Filomena; Freitas, Susana Vaz; Correia, Paula; Romeiro, Cláudia; Silvestre, Inês; Bom, Rita; Martins, Paulo; Santos, Ana R.Abstract: Background: Body image is a potential psychological burden after total laryngectomy (TL) with devastating effects on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and communication. This study focused on TL patients to determine the prevalence of dissatisfied body image and whether they have poorer HRQOL and difficulty adjusting to their new voice than TL patients with satisfied body image. It also aimed to investigate the potential predictors of body image. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. For TL patients, the Body Image Scale (BIS), the European Organization for Research on Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ C30 and EORCT H&N35), and the Self-Experiences of Communication after Laryngeal cancer (SECEL) were used. Patients were categorized as dissatisfied with their body image if the BIS score was ≥8. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the BIS as the dependent measure and HRQOL (QLQ C30 and H& N35) and communication (SECEL) as independent variables. Results: Overall, 31.3% of TL patients had dissatisfied body image, significantly worse HRQOL, and difficulty adjusting to their new voice than patients with satisfied body image. The regression model showed that social eating and socializing (H&N35) and adjustment to their new voice (SECEL) were independent predictors of body image. The model explained 52% of the variance. Conclusions: Screening TL patients at risk for body image concerns may help develop effective interventions to optimize HRQOL and patient communication.
- Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI): validation in european portuguese childrenPublication . Guimarães, Isabel; Almeida, Lina; Quintal, Aldora; Batista, Ana Paula; Teixeira, Ana; Romeiro, Cláudia; Ferreira, Daniela Brás; Fernandes, Inês Sofia; Saraiva, Madalena; Bom, Rita; Almeida, Sancha; Freitas, Susana VazObjectives. To determine reliability and validity of the European Portuguese pVHI version (pVHIEP). Study design. Cross-sectional design. Methods. The pVHI-EP and the talkative and global voice assessment scales were administered to the caregivers of children aged from 3 to 16 years old with and without dysphonia. Reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) was analyzed. The validity analyses performed were: (1) content validity by analyzing the percentage of missing data; (2) construct validity with intraclass correlation coefficients among pVHI-EP domains and overall score; (3) concurrent validity was conducted between pVHI-EP, the caregivers’ judgment of the child's voice severity on a visual analog scale and the Speech-Language Pathologist perceptual voice assessment; (4) knowngroups validity between children with and without dysphonia, and (5) predictive validity by calculating receiver operating characteristics, sensitivity and specificity and determining cut-off points. Results. A total of 283 children (61.5% boys, mean age 8.3 years) participated in the study. The pVHI-EP showed an excellent internal consistency for the pVHI-EP total data. Strong to moderate test-retest reliability confirms pVHI-EP reproducibility. Excellent to good intraclass correlation coefficients between the pVHI-EP overall and the domains confirms its construct validity. Weak to moderate concurrent validity with visual analog scale and Speech-Language Pathologist perceptual voice assessment was confirmed. The pVHI-EP significantly distinguished two groups of different voice conditions. A cut-off point of 10.5 with 95.9% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity was determined for the overall score of the pVHI-EP. Conclusions. The pVHI-EP is a reliable and valid caregiver voice outcome tool for EP children with dysphonia.