"I didn't actually know there was such a thing as rehab": survivor, family, and clinician perceptions of rehabilitation following treatment for head and neck cancer.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to obtain first-hand contributions from survivors, family members, and front-line health care professionals regarding the rehabilitation needs for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, to inform development of a rehabilitation intervention. METHODS: The researchers conducted a series of focus groups with the three key stakeholder groups. RESULTS: A total of seven focus groups with 40 participants were conducted, two with survivors, one with family members, and four with health care professionals. All three participant groups reported that motivation based on a strong desire to return to meaningful roles and activities, and rehabilitation resources embedded within the cancer system were important facilitators of functional recovery. Lack of access to rehabilitation services was a concern expressed repeatedly. CONCLUSION: While generalization is limited by the small sample size, findings include a comprehensive list of rehabilitation needs following treatment for HNC, factors that facilitate and hinder recovery of functional health, and specific suggestions for the development of rehabilitation consult intervention for survivors of HNC.