Simon Dunne1, Laura Coffey2, Linda Sharp3, Deirdre Desmond2, Rachael Gooberman-Hill4, Eleanor O'Sullivan5, Aileen Timmons6, Ivan Keogh7, Conrad Timon8, Pamela Gallagher9. 1. School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. 2. Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland. 3. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK. 4. School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. 5. University College Cork Dental School and Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 6. National Cancer Registry Ireland, Cork, Ireland. 7. Academic Department of Oto Rhino Laryngology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. 8. Head and Neck Cancer Programme, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 9. School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. pamela.gallagher@dcu.ie.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-management may help cancer survivors to better deal with challenges to their physical, functional, social and psychological well-being presented by cancer and its treatment. Nonetheless, little is known about how people integrate cancer self-management practices into their daily lives. The aim of this study was to describe and characterise the processes through which head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors attempt to integrate self-management into their daily lives following primary treatment. METHODS: Using a purposeful critical case sampling method, 27 HNC survivors were identified through four designated cancer centres in Ireland and participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Six themes describing HNC survivors' attempts to integrate self-management into their lives following treatment were identified: grappling with having to self-manage, trying out self-management strategies, becoming an expert self-manager, struggling to integrate self-management strategies into daily life, avoiding recommended self-management and interpreting self-management. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe HNC survivors' attempts to integrate self-management into their daily lives following primary treatment. The findings indicate that HNC survivors exhibit highly individualised approaches to self-management integration and abandon self-management strategies that fail to meet their own specific needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Survivors may benefit from skills training and structured support to assist their transition between in-patient care and having to self-manage after primary treatment, and/or ongoing support to deal with persistent and recurring challenges such as eating difficulties and fear of recurrence.
BACKGROUND: Self-management may help cancer survivors to better deal with challenges to their physical, functional, social and psychological well-being presented by cancer and its treatment. Nonetheless, little is known about how people integrate cancer self-management practices into their daily lives. The aim of this study was to describe and characterise the processes through which head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors attempt to integrate self-management into their daily lives following primary treatment. METHODS: Using a purposeful critical case sampling method, 27 HNC survivors were identified through four designated cancer centres in Ireland and participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Six themes describing HNC survivors' attempts to integrate self-management into their lives following treatment were identified: grappling with having to self-manage, trying out self-management strategies, becoming an expert self-manager, struggling to integrate self-management strategies into daily life, avoiding recommended self-management and interpreting self-management. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe HNC survivors' attempts to integrate self-management into their daily lives following primary treatment. The findings indicate that HNC survivors exhibit highly individualised approaches to self-management integration and abandon self-management strategies that fail to meet their own specific needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Survivors may benefit from skills training and structured support to assist their transition between in-patient care and having to self-manage after primary treatment, and/or ongoing support to deal with persistent and recurring challenges such as eating difficulties and fear of recurrence.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer survivorship; Head and neck cancer; Psycho-oncology; Qualitative; Self-management
Authors: Christopher W Noel; Yue Jennifer Du; Elif Baran; David Forner; Zain Husain; Kevin M Higgins; Irene Karam; Kelvin K W Chan; Julie Hallet; Frances Wright; Natalie G Coburn; Antoine Eskander; Lesley Gotlib Conn Journal: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 8.961