A meta-analysis of the relationship among impaired taste and treatment, treatment type, and tumor site in head and neck cancer treatment survivors.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

To understand how taste impairment caused by head and neck cancer treatment changes over time or varies with treatment site or type.

LITERATURE SEARCH

Ovid MEDLINE® database was searched for reports of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in head and neck cancer treatment survivors (HNCTS), which included taste function in a HRQOL instrument from 1946-2013. Eligible studies compared taste scores from baseline to post-treatment, using two treatment types or two cancer sites.

DATA EVALUATION

247 reports were identified; 19 were suitable for meta-analysis.

DATA ANALYSIS

A series of dichotomous meta-analyses were conducted using comprehensive meta-analysis software .PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS: Taste scores were statistically significantly worse after treatment; the summary effect for the standard measure difference between pretreatment and post-treatment taste scores was 0.353 (p < 0.001). Patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) reported statistically significant worse taste function post-treatment than those who received no RT; the summary effect for the standard mean differences in taste scores was 0.77 (p = 0.001). Differences in tumor site were not significant.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Taste dysfunction is a long-term complication for HNCTS, and nurses should screen survivors for this sensory dysfunction.