Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Head and neck cancer (H&NC) and its possible treatment options are diverse and multifaceted. This thesis demonstrates these complexities and describes three studies that have used different methodological approaches to include, rather than overlook these aspects. \n \nThe first established which aspects of patients’ experiences are overlooked if health care professionals rely upon health related quality of life questionnaires to represent the experience of patients. \n \nThe second identified that the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) working with the patients use humane judgement, not technical expertise, to predict patients’ symptoms pre treatment. \n \nThe third, with reference to the previous two, used Q-Methodology to explore the experience of H&NC patients during and after their treatment. Five interpretations were identified: \n \n•\tMeaning and attachment to illness \n•\tOverwhelmed by the disease \n•\tChange and recovery \n•\tSurviving or not \n•\tKeep control- for the greater good of others \n \nThis unique study has developed a framework through which the MDT can start to translate H&NC patients’ experiences and help enable them to influence their care directly. It also suggests ways in which the framework can be applied to the clinical environment. \n
Author: Katherine Jane Reid
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W319561013