Objective: Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors encounter unique challenges following treatment. This study aimed to identify self-management strategies that HNC survivors use to overcome these posttreatment challenges.
Methods: Twenty-seven individuals from 4 designated cancer centres in Ireland were interviewed about self-management strategies that helped them overcome challenges following HNC treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using directed content analysis.
Results: Twenty self-management strategy types (encompassing 77 specific strategies) were identified. The most frequently used self-management strategy types were self-sustaining (used by 26 survivors), self-motivating (n = 25), and proactive problem solving (n = 25). The most frequently used specific strategies were adaptive approaches to ongoing physical consequences of HNC and its treatment (n = 24), customising dietary practices (n = 24), and maintaining a positive outlook (n = 22).
Conclusions: The study identified strategies that helped HNC survivors to self-manage posttreatment challenges. This information could inform the design/development of self-management interventions tailored towards HNC survivors.
Keywords: cancer survivorship; head and neck cancer; psychosocial intervention development; qualitative; self-management.
Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.