Table 3 Changes of quality of life for 104 NPC patients treated by IMRT or VMAT with completions of all questionnaires at the four time points

 Global quality of Life

53^†‡§

34^¶※

56^#

67

< 0.01

 Physical functioning

92^†‡

81^¶※

88

92

< 0.01

 Role functioning

92^†‡

70^¶※

88

93

< 0.01

 Emotional functioning

79^†‡

72^¶※

85

85

< 0.01

 Cognitive functioning

85^†

77^¶※

85

85

< 0.01

 Social functioning

75^†§

66^¶※

77^#

87

< 0.01

 Fatigue

21^†‡

46^¶※

29^#

18

< 0.01

 Nausea and vomiting

8^†

42^¶※

12

7

< 0.01

 Pain

16^†

39^¶※

15

13

< 0.01

 Dyspnea

8

11

8

6

NS

 Insomnia

26

32^¶※

21

22

< 0.01

 Appetite loss

14^†‡

62^¶※

28^#

13

< 0.01

 Constipation

12^†

27^¶※

18

17

< 0.01

 Diarrhea

11

12

10

8

NS

 Financial difficulties

21

22

22

18

NS

 Pain

5^†‡

40^¶※

12

7

< 0.01

 Swallowing

5^†‡§

42^¶※

20

16

< 0.01

 Senses (taste/smell)

8^†‡§

51^¶※

29^#

17

< 0.01

 Speech

6^†‡§

27^¶※

16

13

< 0.01

 Social eating

4^†‡§

48^¶※

22^#

11

< 0.01

 Social contact

4^†‡

20^¶※

10

6

< 0.01

 Sexuality

13^†‡§

40^¶※

25

22

< 0.01

 Teeth

27^†

29

26

27

NS

 Opening mouth

4^†‡§

22^¶※

16

16

< 0.01

 Dry mouth

20^†‡§

62^¶※

54^#

44

< 0.01

 Sticky saliva

16^†‡§

61^¶※

45^#

34

< 0.01

 Coughing

18^†

22

18

19

NS

 Feeling ill

24^†

55^¶※

27

22

< 0.01