Zhang Yu, Wang Yiqiao, Zhu Yu, Wan Hongwei
Department of Nursing, Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China.
Support Care Cancer. 2024 Dec 11;33(1):17. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-09040-x.
Exploring the experiences and perceptions of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing proton heavy ion therapy who develop taste dysfunction during treatment to improve taste dysfunction management for these patients.
A qualitative study design using a descriptive phenomenological approach.
Conducted individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews in the Head and Neck Tumor Department of the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center from February to April 2024.
The experiences of patients with HNC undergoing proton and heavy ion radiotherapy revealed four key themes: the diversity of taste dysfunction (including reduced or lost perception of sweet, sour, bitter, and other tastes, as well as altered and distorted taste of certain foods); the impact of taste dysfunction on quality of life (changes in dietary habits, malnutrition and weight fluctuations, mental health, and social impacts); strategies for coping with taste dysfunction (altering dietary habits and increasing the use of seasonings to compensate for taste reduction, seeking social support, and engaging in mental health activities to manage emotional distress); and expectations from the healthcare team (need for information and support, psychological support services, and monitoring and evaluation).
Patients with HNC undergoing proton and heavy ion therapy experience significant taste dysfunction. Therefore, during proton and heavy ion therapy for HNC, it is crucial to closely monitor and effectively manage taste dysfunction to enhance patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes. Future research should further explore the mechanisms of taste dysfunction and develop interventions to better meet patients' needs and improve the individualization of treatment.
探究接受质子重离子治疗的头颈癌（HNC）患者在治疗期间出现味觉功能障碍的经历和认知，以改善对这些患者味觉功能障碍的管理。
采用描述性现象学方法的定性研究设计。
于2024年2月至4月在上海质子重离子中心头颈肿瘤科室进行了个体面对面半结构化访谈。
接受质子和重离子放疗的头颈癌患者的经历揭示了四个关键主题：味觉功能障碍的多样性（包括对甜味、酸味、苦味及其他味道的感知降低或丧失，以及某些食物的味道改变和扭曲）；味觉功能障碍对生活质量的影响（饮食习惯改变、营养不良和体重波动、心理健康及社会影响）；应对味觉功能障碍的策略（改变饮食习惯并增加调味料的使用以弥补味觉减退、寻求社会支持以及参与心理健康活动以应对情绪困扰）；以及对医疗团队的期望（对信息和支持的需求、心理支持服务以及监测和评估）。
接受质子和重离子治疗的头颈癌患者经历了显著的味觉功能障碍。因此，在对头颈癌进行质子和重离子治疗期间，密切监测并有效管理味觉功能障碍对于提高患者的生活质量和治疗效果至关重要。未来的研究应进一步探索味觉功能障碍的机制，并制定干预措施以更好地满足患者需求并改善治疗的个体化。
