Novel Assessment of Advanced Practice Provider-Led Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Clinic: Quality-of-Care Metric Analysis and HOUSES Index Application.

BACKGROUND

As head and neck cancer survival rates improve, there is growing demand for quality survivorship care and tools to predict patient adherence; this study aims to evaluate an advanced practice provider (APP)-led survivorship clinic and assess these key metrics.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 213 head and neck cancer patients treated with curative radiation therapy between 2016 and 2023, to assess follow-up adherence in an advanced practice provider-led survivorship clinic.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 2.4 years, follow-up care metrics identified high completion percentages (> 90%) for lung cancer screening, smoking cessation, thyroid screening, dental evaluation, xerostomia, dysphagia, and dysgeusia. The HOUsing-based SocioEconomic Status (HOUSES) index at diagnosis showed a significant adherence difference (median percentile, 78% vs. 55%, adherent vs. nonadherent; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

High adherence rates with guideline-defined care metrics are achievable in an advanced practice provider-led head and neck cancer survivorship clinic. The HOUSES index may assist in predicting nonadherence; however, further studies are needed.