Knowledge, Awareness, And Practice Of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Involved In The Rehabilitation Of Head And Neck Cancer Patients Regarding Post-Radiotherapy Prosthetic Options.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients require specialized multidisciplinary team care throughout the diagnosis, treatment, and survival. To achieve rehabilitation goals, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) should have adequate information regarding post-radiotherapy prosthetic options. This enables optimal rehabilitation and improves their quality of life.

AIM: To assess the Knowledge, awareness, and practice of a multidisciplinary team involved in the rehabilitation of Head and Neck cancer patients regarding post-radiotherapy prosthetic options.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Descriptive survey.

 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The URLs of the questionnaire consisting of fifteen closed-ended questions were shared via the web to the MDT team practicing in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry, to obtain a response of 119 which was the predetermined sample size. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Frequency and percentages and the results were further analysed statistically by the Chi square test.

RESULT: Majority of the members in the multidisciplinary team were aware of few information on the impact of common treatment side effects on prosthetic rehabilitation and prosthetic options available, but were not practicing.

CONCLUSION: Prosthetic options in postradiotherapy patients provides better results in terms of retention, stability, masticatory efficiency, comfort, and psychological well-being of the patient. Hence, the awareness of MDT should be increased regarding various available options of the prosthetic rehabilitation, advantages and disadvantages of prosthesis, and possibilities for retreatment in the case of failure for a successful treatment outcome.