Prehabilitation service delivery for patients with head and neck cancer: a cross-sectional study into UK healthcare professionals’ views

Background Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the eighth most common cancer in the UK and is associated with significant morbidity. There is a paucity of evidence regarding prehabilitation for people with HNC and more research is needed to ensure patients are well prepared for treatment and its aftermath. Aim To explore UK healthcare professionals’ views on HNC prehabilitation service delivery. Method A prospective and descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 118 healthcare professionals working with patients with HCN in the UK completed an online survey. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and free-text comments were analysed using qualitative inductive content analysis. Findings Almost all respondents considered that prehabilitation benefits patients with HNC and a large majority favoured service delivery within a clinic led by a multidisciplinary team (MDT). However, over half of respondents said they would not have capacity to provide prehabilitation in the next 12 months. Over half of respondents expressed a need for training on prehabilitation and the implementation and evaluation of a prehabilitation service. Further prerequisites for setting up an HNC prehabilitation service included sustained funding and robust governance structures. Conclusion The study adds to the limited evidence base on prehabilitation service delivery for patients with HNC. Its findings regarding the prerequisites for implementing HNC prehabilitation could be used to guide the planning of new services.