Education, counseling, support groups, and provider knowledge of total laryngectomy: The patient's perspective.

Purpose: Studies over a 40 year period have reported inadequate education and counseling for persons with laryngectomy; however, several long-term trends, including centralization of laryngectomy surgeries in major teaching hospitals, the rise of the internet, and the increased use of the tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) for voice all have the potential to improve this situation. This study investigated if persons with total laryngectomy reported receiving adequate education and counseling before and after their laryngectomy, and how this varied by gender, geographic setting, communication method, and time. It also examined who participated in in-person and online support groups, and what health care providers and settings are perceived as most knowledgeable about laryngectomy.