Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Neck Dissection Impairment Index

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Neck Dissection Impairment Index

One of the long-term effects of neck dissection applied to patients with head and neck cancer is shoulder dysfunction, which directly affects the quality of life. Patients complain of different degrees of shoulder joint problems following neck dissection . Shoulder syndrome in these patients is characterized by a set of symptoms including shoulder pain, abduction limitation, and scapular winging.The aim of this study is to make the Turkish Neck validity, reliability and cultural adaptation of the "Neck Dissection Impairment Index".

In the literature, there are many questionnaires aimed at patients with head and neck cancer, developed both specifically and specifically for this patient group, evaluating the quality of life. Regarding the shoulder problems experienced by these patients, there is only one item in the literature called "The University of Michegan Head and Neck QOL (UMHNQOL) questionnaire" that evaluates shoulder pain. Apart from this, there is no other questionnaire in the literature that may adversely affect the quality of life to neck dissection and question both neck and shoulder problems together. The Neck Dissection Impairment Index evaluates the shoulder-related quality of life in a more comprehensive and more detailed manner according to the UMHNQOL questionnaire. The Neck Dissection Impairment Index evaluates the components of shoulder related quality of life in a wide range after neck dissection. Because the type of age, weight, radiotherapy and neck dissection are the most important variables affecting quality of life, patients in the high-risk group (e.g. young individuals, patients who have received radiotherapy and modified radical neck dissection) evaluated with the Neck Dissection Impairment Questionnaire can benefit from an earlier and more intensive rehabilitation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Voluntarily accepting to participate in the study
• Patients whose native language is Turkish
• Patients or healthy individuals who have completed a minimum 11-month recovery period after selective or modified neck dissection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a pathological condition in the neck or shoulder that is not related to the treatments associated with head and neck cancer
• Cancer recurrence at the time of the evaluations