HYPnosis for tastE in Head And Neck CancEr (HYP-EnHANCE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HYPnosis for tastE in Head And Neck CancEr (HYP-EnHANCE)
IRAS ID
190015
Contact name
Joanne Patterson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
Survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) are faced with major post treatment challenges and changes to lifestyle. HNC treatment has a substantial impact on basic functions, the most common being difficulties with eating and drinking.
Evidence for speech and language therapy interventions in this population has largely focused on exercises to increase the movement of the swallowing mechanism. Taste dysfunction (dysgeusia) occurs in approximately 75% of head and neck cancer patients. Taste dysfunction significantly reduces appetite, impacting on oral intake, contributing to malnutrition and weight loss.
Hypnosis attempts to alter a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours by “suggestions” that instruct the person to concentrate on particular images or ideas. This can be achieved with the help of a trained therapist or through self-hypnosis, thus increasing the ability to self-manage a chronic condition. Hypnosis is effective in treating other cancer symptoms such as nausea and pain control. It is also recommended on the NHS for conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and to help weight loss management and smoking cessation.
This study aims to investigate if a hypnosis intervention can be developed for taste dysfunction and dry mouth (HYP-EnHANCE) for HNC patients with taste dysfunction (dysgeusia).REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0392
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion