Department of Nursing and Nutrition, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
REHPA, The Danish Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, Odense University Hospital and Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Vestergade 17, 5800, Nyborg, Denmark.
J Cancer Surviv. 2019 Oct;13(5):792-803. doi: 10.1007/s11764-019-00798-2. Epub 2019 Aug 24.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
本定性研究有两个目的：（1）探讨癌症治疗后出现进食问题的头颈部癌症（HNC）幸存者的日常生活体验；（2）探讨他们参与以治疗后身体、心理和社会方面的进食问题为重点的多学科住院康复计划的体验。
对 40 名丹麦 HNC 幸存者进行了半结构式焦点小组访谈，这些幸存者参加了为期 5 天的住院康复计划，并在 3 个月后进行了随访。对转录的访谈进行了定性内容分析。
经常出现营养影响症状和未满足的支持需求。参与者因进食能力受损而感到失落。进食已经成为一种义务或训练情况，而当善意的鼓励被视为压力时，进食问题会挑战与亲属的关系。社交进食是一个挑战，这常常导致社交退缩。住院康复计划是一个安全且支持性的环境，可以练习进食技能，参与者受益于与同龄人会面。该计划为参与者提供了他们在治疗期间和之后一直缺乏的知识和技能。
治疗后出现的进食问题对 HNC 幸存者的日常生活有重大影响。多学科住院康复计划可能有助于满足他们的康复需求。
研究结果有助于未来规划康复服务和临床研究，这可能有助于改善当前的临床实践并使 HNC 幸存者受益。
