The Ready for Safe Cancer Treatment (RESET) tool: enhancing quality and optimizing timely and safe discharge with transitional care adjustments for Head and Neck Cancer patients

<b>Introduction:</b> The Ready for Safe Cancer Treatment (RESET) tool is a structured, multimodal program designed to optimize hospitalization and enhance the quality of perioperative care for oncological patients. While RESET has been developed as a general framework for surgical oncology, its adaptation to Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients remains unexplored despite their unique physiological and psychological needs. HNC patients frequently face severe functional impairments affecting speech, swallowing, and respiration, as well as heightened nutritional deficiencies, sarcopenia, and psychological distress. This study explores the feasibility of tailoring the RESET tool to meet the specialized requirements of HNC patients. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of adapting the RESET to the specific needs of HNC patients. The research focuses on identifying key areas requiring modification to optimize perioperative care, including prehabilitation, nutritional support, functional rehabilitation, and psychological care. Epidemiological analysis, patient needs assessment, and a review of the core RESET modules will help determine effective strategies for improving treatment quality and recovery outcomes in this patient group. The ultimate goal is to develop a more personalized, evidence-based approach that could be implemented in oncology centers to enhance treatment outcomes for HNC patients. <br><br><b>Methods:</b> RESET is structured into four modules: pre-admission prehabilitation, advanced communication and need assessment upon admission, intra-hospital recovery optimization, and transitional care planning at discharge. This study includes a cross-sectional epidemiological assessment of HNC patient representation at two oncological centers in Poland, an analysis of prehabilitation requirements, a comparative evaluation of core RESET modules, and a gap analysis identifying necessary protocol enhancements. The proposed methodological approach integrates both quantitative and qualitative assessments to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of RESET's adaptation to HNC patients. <br><br><b>Results:</b> Data from 2023-2024 indicate that HNC patients constitute 11-25% of the total oncological population at the studied centers, demonstrating distinct demographic characteristics such as younger age distribution and extended hospitalization periods. Prehabilitation needs analysis underscores the importance of structured nutritional support, targeted muscle preservation strategies, and psychological interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy. Additionally, core RESET module evaluations highlight the necessity of enhanced post-discharge transitional care, particularly for patients requiring tracheostomy or prolonged enteral nutrition support. The gap analysis identifies critical areas requiring reinforcement, such as comprehensive sarcopenia screening, specialized dysphagia management protocols, and a multidisciplinary approach to psychosocial rehabilitation. <br><br><b>Discussion:</b> HNC patients present unique challenges that demand tailored modifications to the RESET framework. Unlike other oncological cohorts, HNC patients are predisposed to functional impairments, high nutritional deficits, and significant psychosocial burdens. The inclusion of dedicated nutritional strategies, prehabilitation exercises, and psychological support within the RESET protocol may significantly improve treatment outcomes, reduce postoperative complications, and enhance the quality of life. Despite its structured approach, the main limitation of the RESET adaptation for HNC remains the need for dedicated funding and further validation through prospective clinical trials. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> Adapting the RESET tool to the needs of HNC patients has the potential to optimize perioperative care, ensuring a more individualized, evidence-based approach. The proposed modifications emphasize enhanced nutritional, physical, and psychological support, aligning RESET with the specific challenges faced by HNC patients. Further research and implementation studies are required to validate the effectiveness of this adapted framework in improving patient outcomes within oncological network hospitals.