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Providing care to a family member affected by head and neck cancer: a phenomenological study

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Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 07 December 2019

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Abstract

Background

Cancer is recognized as a family illness as many head and neck cancer (HNC) patients after treatment require assistance from a family caregiver throughout the rest of their life. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of primary family caregivers of HNC patients dealing with laryngectomy regarding their complex supportive role.

Methods

Phenomenological study based on individual interviews of twelve primary caregivers of HNC patients, recruited by purposeful sampling. Interview contents were analyzed in depth, in accordance with Colaizzi’s descriptive analysis framework, to explore and identify significant themes and subthemes.

Results

Analysis evidenced three main topics and subthemes embracing various aspects of the caregiver’s lived experiences: (1) experiencing disease and the pathway of care, (2) handling changes to everyday life, and (3) support received by others.

Conclusion

Given the essential role the caregiver has in the patient’s post-treatment recovery, future planning of HNC patient care must consider the caregivers’ needs. In order to guarantee an appropriate and effective health professional care, it is important to consider caregivers’ issues and needs as part of HNC patient care planning from the diagnosis to the follow-up.

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Change history

  • 07 December 2019

    The name of Luca Ghirotto was incorrectly captured in the original manuscript.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Manuella Walker (Pisa, Italy) for the support in editing the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, Udine University, Viale Ungheria 20, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Elisa Dri & Valentina Bressan

  2. Continuing Education Centre, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Via Franco Gallini 2, 33081, Aviano, Italy

    Lucia Cadorin

  3. Agency for Health and Social Care, Veneto Region, Palazzo Molin, San Polo 2514, 30125, Venice, Italy

    Simone Stevanin

  4. University of Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Giampiera Bulfone

  5. Department of ENT, University Hospital of Udine, Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, 15, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Antonio Rizzuto

  6. Direzione Scientifica, Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Viale Umberto I°, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Ghirotto Luca

Authors
  1. Elisa Dri
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  2. Valentina Bressan
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  3. Lucia Cadorin
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  4. Simone Stevanin
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  5. Giampiera Bulfone
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  6. Antonio Rizzuto
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  7. Ghirotto Luca
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Correspondence to Valentina Bressan.

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The study was exempt from formal ethical approval by the Internal Review Board composed by Academic Hospital and University members.

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Dri, E., Bressan, V., Cadorin, L. et al. Providing care to a family member affected by head and neck cancer: a phenomenological study. Support Care Cancer 28, 2105–2112 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05026-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05026-2

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