Perceptions of life and experiences of health care support among individuals one year after head and neck cancer treatment - An interview study

• Purpose: To examine how individuals treated for head and neck cancer perceive life one year after the end of treatment and how they experience supportive efforts from health care.Methods: A semi-structured intervies study of 21 patients was performed one year after the end of treatment. The patients gave their views concerning physical, psychological, and return-to-work issues, and their experiences concerning rehabilitative efforts from health care and particularly the contact nurse were captured. A thematic analysis was conducted.Results: One year after treatment the patients were still suffering from side effects and from fear of recurrence, but they strived to live as they did before the cancer diagnosis, such as having returned to work and resuming leisure activities. Moreover, the rehabilitative efforts from health care had ended. Having access to a contact nurse, also known as a clinical nurse specialist, was positive, however, the participants lacked regular long-term follow-ups with the contact nurse regarding rehabilitation needs. Improvement possibilities were seen in clarifying the role of the contact nurse and that the contact nurse should show engagement and make the initial contact with the patients.Conclusion: Desptite the sequelae from treatment, the patients strived to live as before their diagnosis. By regular, engaged, and long-term follow-ups by the contact nurse, remaining needs may be uncovered, and appropiate individualized support and rehabilitation can be offered.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Contact nurse

Head and neck cancer

Return to work

Supportive efforts

onkologi

Oncology

Caring Sciences

omvårdnadsforskning med samhällsvetenskaplig inriktning

socialt arbete med inriktning på vårdforskning

Social Work

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