Pre-Surgical Education and Discharge Planning for Head and Neck Cancer: A Qualitative Study of Patient and Caregiver Perspectives

IntroductionResearch on pre-surgical education and discharge planning for head and neck cancer (HNC) remains limited. To address this gap, this qualitative study aims to assess patient and caregiver perspectives on pre-surgical education and discharge planning in HNC surgery.Methods and MaterialsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 individuals who received HNC surgery and 10 of their caregivers after hospital discharge. Participants were recruited from an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a community oncology setting.ResultsFive key recommendations for HNC surgical care emerged from the data: (1) improve communication about anticipated side effects; (2) provide targeted education through multiple modalities; (3) connect patients and caregivers with individuals who have gone through HNC surgery; (4) improve patient-provider communication for individuals with speech, vision, and hearing impairment; and (5) present the best and worst case scenarios to prepare individuals for post-surgical recovery. ConclusionParticipants identified gaps in pre-surgical education and discharge planning and provided recommendations to improve HNC surgical care.