Abstract
Background: There is a need to understand the common plots (master plots) of illness narratives for people who are treated for cancer. Improved insight would enhance therapeutic relationships and help reduce stress for health care professionals (HCPs). Aim: Identify and refine the most supported narrative master plots, which convey meaning for the tellers’ lived experience from diagnosis to a year post-treatment for a group of Head and Neck Cancer (H&NC) patients. Method: A purposive sample of individuals with H&NC using a single qualitative interview was undertaken. A narrative analysis was used. Results: Eighteen people (57.8 years, six female and 12 male) with H&NC participated. The average time since treatment began was 10 months. Five master plots were identified: (1) The responsive and reflective narrative, (2) The frail narrative, (3) The recovery narrative, (4) The survive or die narrative and (5) The personal project narrative. Discussion: The identification of narrative master plots of people with H&NC enables HCPs to understand and prepare for the different stories and reactions presented to them. This is important to prevent people’s reactions being labelled in restrictive ways. The implications of recognising the different experiences are discussed further within the manuscript. Research is needed to build on these findings to promote better patient-centred care in practice.
Highlights
Head and Neck Cancer (H&NC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide [1]
Research has identified that psychosocial care of patients with H&NC cancer can be overlooked which may contribute to a lower standard of care [14]
The aim of the current study was to identify common illness narrative master plots that are told by individuals with H&NC who have recently finished treatment
Summary
Research has identified a poor survival rate despite the search for new prognostic and predictive factors [3] It is a collective term for cancers within the anatomical areas of the oral cavity, oral-pharynx, pharynx and larynx. The experience may challenge a personal sense of self [7], increase levels of uncertainty [8] and negatively impact day-to-day life [9,10,11] Despite such threats, the patient group has been reported as being less willing to request support [12,13] when compared with other patient groups. Aim: Identify and refine the most supported narrative master plots, which convey meaning for the tellers’ lived experience from diagnosis to a year post-treatment for a group of Head and Neck Cancer (H&NC) patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
