Abstract
PurposePatients with head and neck cancer (HNC) describe eating as more than a physical activity for nutrition and calories. After treatment for HNC, patients report a changed social experience around food, with eating and drinking in front of family and friends depicted as a challenge. However, there is limited research exploring how patients with HNC adapt and cope with social eating difficulties. This study aims to explore patients’ experiences and perceptions of social eating and drinking following treatment for HNC.MethodsA qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews was employed to understand the experiences of social eating of patients living with and beyond HNC. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to inductively develop key themes from the data.ResultsFourteen interviews were conducted with patients, and two key themes were identified: (1) “Social eating became a conscious process” and (2) “Strategies to maximise social eating participation”. To maximise social eating enjoyment, patients attempted to minimise the attention on their eating function and the fuss created around food. Patients with HNC established psychological and cognitive adaptations to manage expectations and promote positive participation in social eating.ConclusionThis paper identifies key barriers limiting or diminishing social eating for patients with HNC; including being self-conscious, lack of understanding from others and functional issues with eating and drinking. This research highlights the need to raise awareness of social eating challenges and for the social dimensions of eating to be addressed through family-centred, supportive holistic interventions implemented early in the patient’s cancer journey.
Highlights
Patients who undergo head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment report substantial changes in their physical, functional and psychosocial well-being [1]
Patients described eating with others after HNC treatment as becoming a conscious process
The conscious process characterised some of the meaning that influenced their behaviour, attitudes and psychological challenges connected to social eating
Summary
Patients who undergo head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment report substantial changes in their physical, functional and psychosocial well-being [1]. Side effects of treatment include dysphagia and other eating-related difficulties due to pain, xerostomia, mucositis and lack of appetite [2]. Ninety percent of patients with HNC have eating and drinking difficulties after treatment [3, 4]. Food has a changed meaning, where eating and drinking with others are identified as a challenge [5, 6]. Research demonstrates that social eating is a significant problem, often continuing beyond 5 years after treatment [7]. Social eating and drinking are defined as eating or drinking in the presence of another person [8]. The phrase, social eating, is used to encompass both activities of social eating and drinking
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
