Prognostic Counselling in Palliative Head and Neck Cancer (ProCoPall)

Individualized Prognostic Counseling on Life Expectancy of Head and Neck Cancer Patients in the Palliative Phase

The investigators test the effect of providing individualized prognostic information on life-expectancy to head and neck cancer patients in the palliative phase.

In this prospective sequential cohort study, the investigators aim to include 160 patients with a palliative diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, divided into two cohorts. In cohort 1, patients will receive general prognostic counselling, while in cohort 2, patients will receive individualized prognostic counselling using the recently developed prognostic model 'OncologIQ Palliative'. Cohort 2 will commence after completion of cohort 1. The primary outcome will be decisional conflict and satisfaction with the decision-making process and proactive care planning. Additionally, we will assess whether patients undergo palliative treatment and, if so, the type of treatment received. We will also evaluate overall survival, the incidence of palliative sedation or euthanasia, and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who received a palliative diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, supraglottic larynx, glottis larynx and unknown primary.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Illiterate patients
• Insufficient knowledge of Dutch language
• Incompetent (due to i.e. mental state) to consider their own treatment choice