Table 3 Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients
From: The prospective evaluation and risk factors of dysphagia after surgery in patients with oral cancer
Eating in Public | |
100 | No restriction of place, food, or companion (eats out at any opportunity) |
75 | No restriction of place, but restricts diet when in public (eats anywhere, but may limit intake to less “messy” foods, e.g., liquids) |
50 | Eats only in presence of selected persons in selected places |
25 | Eats only at home in presence of selected persons |
0 | Always eats alone |
Understandability of Speech | |
100 | Always understandable |
75 | Understandable most of the time; occasional repetition necessary |
50 | Usually understandable; face-to-face contact necessary |
25 | Difficult to understand |
0 | Never understandable; may use written communication |
Normalcy of Diet | |
100 | Full diet (no restrictions) |
90 | Peanuts |
80 | All meat |
70 | Carrots, celery |
60 | Dry bread and crackers |
50 | Soft, chewable foods (e.g., macaroni, canned/soft fruits, cooked vegetables, fish, hamburger, small pieces of meat) |
40 | Soft foods requiring no chewing (e.g., mashed potatoes, apple sauce, pudding) |
30 | Pureed foods (in blender) |
20 | Warm liquids |
10 | Cold liquids |
0 | Non-oral feeding (tube fed) |