To eat is to practice-managing eating problems after head and neck cancer.
J Cancer Surviv
; 13(5): 792-803, 2019 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31446592
PURPOSE: The purpose of this qualitative study was twofold: (1) to explore head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors' experiences of everyday life with eating problems after cancer treatment and (2) to explore their experiences of participating in a multidisciplinary residential rehabilitation program with a primary focus on physical, psychological, and social aspects of eating problems after treatment. METHODS: Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 40 Danish HNC survivors who participated in a 5-day residential rehabilitation program with follow-up after 3 months. The transcribed interviews were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Physical nutrition impact symptoms and unmet needs for support were frequent. Participants experienced a feeling of loss due to impaired eating abilities. Eating had become an obligation or a training situation, and the eating problems challenged the relationship with their relatives when well-meaning encouragement was perceived as a pressure. Social eating was a challenge, and this often led to social withdrawal. The residential program was a safe and supportive environment to practice eating skills, and participants benefited from meeting peers. The program provided participants with knowledge and skills that many of them had been missing during and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Eating problems after treatment have substantial effects on the everyday life of HNC survivors. A multidisciplinary residential rehabilitation program may be beneficial to meet their rehabilitation needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The results are useful for future planning of rehabilitation services and clinical studies that may contribute to improving current clinical practice and benefit HNC survivors.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos
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Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud
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Ingestión de Alimentos
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Supervivientes de Cáncer
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Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
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Qualitative_research
Aspecto:
Patient_preference
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cancer Surviv
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Dinamarca
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos