Innovative Patient-partner-guided Virtual Group Speech Pathology Intervention Model in Head and Neck Cancer

Impacts of an Innovative Patient-partner-guided Virtual Group Speech Pathology Intervention Model to Prevent Swallowing Disorders in Patients Treated With Chemoradiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer

This project aims to study an innovative intervention, the eG2 Intervention, developed by speech-language pathologists at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal to improve therapeutic adherence and prevent dysphagia in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

The innovation consists in offering a speech therapy intervention that is 1) virtual, 2) group-based (whereas it is usually individual) and 3) involves a patient partner. This intervention has the potential to improve quality of care, accessibility to services and optimize health care resources.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults ≥ 18 years of age with a diagnosis of head or neck cancer
• Chemoradiotherapy treatments planned for curative purposes
• Planned external radiation therapy dose of at least ≥60 Grays
• Sufficient proficiency in French to complete self-reported questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• Remote metastases
• Previous or planned total laryngectomy
• Previous moderate/severe dysphagia known and/or evaluated by speech therapy
• Diagnosis of a second synchronous cancer at the time of study enrollment
• History of prior radiation therapy to the head and neck area
• Have a cognitive impairment (diagnosed or suspected) that may significantly interfere with participation in the intervention and various measurement procedures.