CN77 - ‘Eating with others’: Planning, developing and testing a self-management intervention to promote social eating for patients living with and beyond head and neck cancer

Background

Following treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC), up to 90% of patients encounter difficulties with eating and drinking. Research highlights the significant social challenges associated with eating post-treatment. Patients often describe social eating as a loss, encompassing missed events, reduced enjoyment, decreased confidence, and diminished social connection. Despite these obstacles, there are few existing interventions targeting the social aspect of eating for HNC patients, and none are widely replicable in clinical settings. This study aimed to create a self-management intervention to promote social eating for patients living with and beyond HNC.

Methods

The intervention development followed the Person-Based Approach (PBA). A systematic review of social eating experiences in HNC patients was conducted, followed by qualitative interviews with 14 patients, 12 relatives, and 13 healthcare professionals (HCP). Using this research, an intervention prototype was developed over 7 cycles, informed by literature and qualitative findings, reviewed by an advisory group, and iteratively tested for usability and acceptability through think-aloud interviews with 5 patients and 5 HCPs.

Results

A patient-centred, evidence-based, theory-driven self-management intervention has been developed to promote social eating for patients with HNC. Key features include acknowledging the impact HNC can have on social eating, providing cognitive and behavioural strategies to overcome social eating barriers whilst improving confidence and motivation. The findings indicate that the ‘Eating with Others’ intervention is an acceptable intervention to patients living with HNC.

Conclusions

The study advocates for a holistic approach to HNC survivorship care, emphasising the importance of assessing social eating needs at various stages and involving families in the process. It stresses the need for tailored information and prehabilitation to address individual preferences and challenges, alongside interdisciplinary research and education to improve support for social eating in healthcare environments and hospitality settings.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Study was part of a PhD Studentship funded by the Department for the Economy.

Disclosure

M. Dornan: Other, Personal, Member of EONS Young Cancer Nurse Working Group. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.