Effects of Adjuvant Respiratory Therapy on Secretion Expectoration and Treatment Adherence in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The common complaints of head and neck cancer patients receiving concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) are dry mouth, dysphagia, trismus, hoarseness, sore throat, and oral mucosal damage, which result in retained secretions and difficult expectoration. We aimed to investigate the effect of adjuvant respiratory therapy on secretion expectoration and treatment completion in patients with head and neck cancer receiving CCRT. Materials and Methods: From November 2016 to May 2018, 56 head and neck cancer patients were recruited retrospectively, and according to their respiratory therapy in the medical record, were divided into the control group (CG, n = 27) or the research group (RG, n = 29). In the CG, the patients were treated via the teaching of routine breathing exercises and expel techniques, while patients in the RG were treated with the inhalation of a ß-agonist bronchodilator agent five times each week, in addition to the standard treatment administered in the CG. Results: The total completion rate of treatment was significantly higher in the RG (21 patients) compared with the CG (12 patients) (72.4% vs. 44.4%, p Conclusions: Adjuvant respiratory therapy not only improves secretion expectoration, but also reduces side effects, thus promoting the completion of the CCRT schedule in patients with head and neck cancer.

Keywords

• adjuvant respiratory therapy
• head and neck cancer
• concurrent chemo-radiotherapy
• secretion expectoration
• treatment adherence