Quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer: A mixed method study

Aim of the study: The current research was conducted with the aim of determining the quality of life of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients using mixed method approach.

Methods: A mixed method triangulation design (QUAN + QUAL) was adopted in the study. Quantitative data were collected among 54 and qualitative data were collected till data saturation using nested sampling technique. Data were collected from seven oncological wards of two tertiary care hospitals during the 4^th week of radiation therapy. Quantitative data were collected through functional assessment of cancer therapy: head and neck, and a semi-structured interview schedule was adopted to elicit their experiences. Quantitative and qualitative data were compared during the analysis phase. Both qualitative and quantitative data were depicted in meta-matrices.

Results: Results showed that the most affected domains were functional well-being followed by HNC subscale. Similar findings were observed in narrative description of participants. Most focused experience was pain, and difficulty in eating and swallowing was experienced due to pain. Their verbal communication was inefficacious due to loss of voice and tone. Moreover, communication was difficult owing to changes in the oral mucous membrane and pathology.

Conclusion: Patients with HNC suffer from varying degrees of psychosocial problems, and it is important to identify the psychosocial adjustment of the patients since the symptoms are sufficient to lay heavy burden.