Addressing Perioperative Needs in Head and Neck Cancer: Piloting a Nurse Practitioner‐Led Preoperative Virtual Visit

Objective: To improve understanding of the postoperative care challenges of patients with head and neck cancer and to help address these care needs before surgery. Study Design: Qualitative study with intervention development and process testing. Setting: Tertiary care academic medical center. Methods: To examine perioperative patient experiences, we first performed interviews of 28 adult patients with head and neck cancer undergoing resection with microvascular free flap reconstruction. We then developed a unique preoperative virtual visit focused on socioeconomic and perioperative needs. 50 visits were then conducted by advanced practice providers, and visit content was analyzed. Results: Before the new preoperative visit, 73% of patients did not plan for postoperative care preoperatively and 73% did not feel comfortable with postoperative care needs. 55% reported unaddressed socioeconomic hardship. Themes included: limited understanding of surgery and limited understanding of postoperative care needs. After the new preoperative visit, 62% of visits addressed significant care-related concerns not previously identified. Conclusion: An additional preoperative virtual visit by an advanced practice provider may help improve surgical expectations and better prepare patients and their caregivers for perioperative needs.