Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Consumer Partnering, Metro South Health Clinical Governance, Risk and Legal, Brisbane, Australia.
Support Care Cancer. 2024 Aug 29;32(9):620. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08811-w.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) care was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study aimed to explore the functional outcomes and service experiences of patients with HNC treated during and prior the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mixed methods were used to (1) retrospectively compare HNC patients' functional outcomes and allied health service usage across two time-controlled cohorts and (2) understand the experiences of HNC care using validated surveys and qualitative interviews.
Retrospective data was extracted for 78 participants (pre-COVID-19, n = 43; during-COVID-19, n = 35), with n = 28 and n = 18 completing surveys and an interview, respectively. Significant differences were found in service modality between groups with significantly more phone and telehealth services provided during COVID-19. Service usage and functional outcomes were not significantly different between groups. During-COVID-19 participants reported being significantly less informed about their care and care was significantly less appropriate and acceptable. Thematic analysis of interviews revealed six broad themes related to communication, person-centred care, treatment logistics, care availability, safety of care, and impacts on experiences.
This study revealed that whilst HNC care rapidly changed at the onset of COVID-19, patient access to treatment and functional outcomes did not differ significantly. Rather, factors related to the patient experience of care were discussed. Healthcare professionals working in HNC have further evidence supporting building relationships based on transparent communication and partnering with patients to overcome rapid clinical changes, as experienced during COVID-19.
头颈部癌症（HNC）的治疗受到了 COVID-19 大流行的严重影响。本研究旨在探讨 COVID-19 大流行期间和之前接受治疗的 HNC 患者的功能结果和服务体验。
混合方法用于（1）回顾性比较两个时间控制队列中 HNC 患者的功能结果和联合健康服务使用情况，以及（2）使用经过验证的调查和定性访谈了解 HNC 护理的经验。
共提取了 78 名参与者（COVID-19 前，n=43；COVID-19 期间，n=35）的回顾性数据，其中 n=28 和 n=18 分别完成了调查和访谈。发现两组之间的服务模式存在显著差异，COVID-19 期间提供了更多的电话和远程医疗服务。两组之间的服务使用和功能结果没有显著差异。COVID-19 期间的参与者报告说，他们对自己的护理知之甚少，护理明显不够合适和可接受。访谈的主题分析揭示了与沟通、以患者为中心的护理、治疗物流、护理可用性、护理安全性以及对体验的影响有关的六个广泛主题。
本研究表明，尽管 COVID-19 大流行开始时 HNC 治疗迅速改变，但患者接受治疗和功能结果并没有显著差异。相反，讨论了与患者护理体验相关的因素。在 HNC 工作的医疗保健专业人员有进一步的证据支持基于透明沟通建立关系，并与患者合作克服 COVID-19 期间经历的快速临床变化。
