Introduction
After treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) up to 90% of patients have difficulties eating and drinking, with social eating reported as a challenge and loss. However, extant interventions are not specific to support the social dimension of eating, nor replicable in modern-day clinical practice. This study aimed to plan, design and test a self-management intervention, promoting social eating for patients with HNC.
Methods
The research design was intervention development, guided by the Person-Based Approach (PBA). Initially a systematic review was conducted, with 24 included studies exploring HNC patients’ social eating experiences; followed by qualitative interviews with patients (n=14), relatives (n=12) and healthcare professionals (n=13), thematically analysed. Iterative input from an advisory group (n=22) was adopted; culminating in an intervention prototype which was user-tested over three cycles for usability and acceptability, using think-aloud interviews (n=10).
Results
An evidenced-based and theory-driven self-management resource, entitled ‘Eating with Others’, was designed to promote social eating for patients with HNC. Sections included benefits of social eating, strategies and reflective activities to overcome social eating barriers, making a personal plan and use of social eating card.
Conclusion
Implementing the systematic and iterative PBA intervention development framework, enabled relevant theory, empirical research and advisory group involvement to design an acceptable self-management social eating intervention. Mixed-methods evaluation is required to determine feasibility in clinical practice.
Mark Dornan1, Cherith Semple2, Anne Moorhead3
1 Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, The Open University
2 Institute for Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University / Cancer Services, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust
3 Institute for Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University