Authors: Lauren J Breen Moira O’Connor Samuel Calder Vivian Tai Jade Cartwright Janet M Beilby
Publish Date: 2017/03/03
Volume: 25, Issue: 8, Pages: 2413-2420
Abstract
A modified Delphi process assessed support needs of people with HNC following acute medical management A systematic review of the literature was used to develop items relevant to seven key concepts underpinning the psychological experience of living with HNC A panel of 105 health professionals was invited to participate in two questionnaire roundsOf the potential panellists 50 48 completed round 1 and of these 39 78 completed round 2 Following two rounds there was consensus agreement on the concepts uncertainty and waiting disruption to daily life and fear of recurrence The concepts the diminished self making sense of and managing the experience sharing the burden and finding a path did not achieve consensus There were no differences in responses according to gender organization type or location Medical professionals had significantly higher agreement for the concept uncertainty and waiting compared to allied health professionals and professionals with five years’ or more experience had significantly higher agreement than those with less experienceHealth professionals agreed that many psychosocial support needs of HNC survivors and families are not being met and that they experience difficulties in meeting these needs Findings may inform evidencebased treatment programs for HNC survivors and their families to promote psychological resilience and quality of life in this vulnerable populationAll procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards
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