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Coping with an altered mouth and perceived supportive care needs following head and neck cancer treatment

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Abstract

Purpose

Oral health is essential to general health and well-being and is severely impacted by head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment. This study aimed to describe how people who have been treated for HNC cope with altered oral health and function and to identify their supportive care needs.

Methods

A qualitative, descriptive approach was used. Data was collected from individual interviews with six participants 6 months after treatment. Data analysis was performed by qualitative content analysis involving inductive and directed approaches. Directed content analysis was guided by the Stress, Appraisal and Coping Model.

Results

Three themes describing changed oral health were identified from the data: dimensions of eating, maintaining oral health after treatment and adapting to the chronic side effects of treatment. A strong use of problem-focussed coping was described, in addition to the importance of peer support in adapting to the psychosocial outcomes of treatment. Support needs identified related to increased access to specialist dental oncology services post treatment, information needs and a need for more psychological support.

Conclusion

The study findings describe the experience of a sample of people who have received treatment for HNC. Due to a demographically homogenous sample and the strong use of positive coping strategies, the results presented may not describe the experience of the wider HNC population; however, these results provide insight into factors that may influence positive coping.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Dental Hygiene Association of Australia’s Research Fund.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Oral Health Centre, 288 Herston Road, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia

    K. A. Pateman, P. J. Ford & C. S. Farah

  2. Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Building 71/918 Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia

    K. A. Pateman & C. S. Farah

  3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Cnr Butterfield Street and Bowen Bridge Road, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia

    M. D. Batstone

Authors
  1. K. A. Pateman
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  2. P. J. Ford
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  3. M. D. Batstone
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  4. C. S. Farah
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. A. Pateman.

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Pateman, K.A., Ford, P.J., Batstone, M.D. et al. Coping with an altered mouth and perceived supportive care needs following head and neck cancer treatment. Support Care Cancer 23, 2365–2373 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2607-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2607-y

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