Interviews on enteral feeding experiences in H&N cancer patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the experiences of enteral feeding tubes and enteral feeding of people who have been treated with chemo-radiotherapy/ radiotherapy for head and neck cancer?
IRAS ID
161569
Contact name
Gillian Williams
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Research Question/ Aim:To explore and compare the experiences of enteral feeding tubes (NG and Gastrostomy) and of EF of patients with H&N cancer who have completed chemo-radiotherapy (CRT)/ radiotherapy treatment (RT)
Concurrent CRT is the preferred treatment strategy for organ preservation for locally advanced head and neck (H&N) cancer. A large majority of patients require oral or enteral nutrition support during treatment. Two main approaches have been used to provide enteral nutrition support:( i) a nasogastric (NG) tube placed if and when required ; and (ii) a prophylactic gastrostomy tube placed prior to treatment to be used when oral intake drops. Optimal treatment should focus not only on clinical outcome, but should also consider the impact on daily living and the patients' Quality of Life (QOL). Many of the studies on enteral feeding in H&N cancer do not consider the impact of Enteral Feeding (EF) tubes on QOL. This study will add to the body of evidence by adding rich qualitative data on the experiences of patients with H&N cancer with EF tubes therefore ensuring that treatment decisions give consideration to both clinical and QOL outcomes.
Semi-structured face-to-face interviews will be used with 20 patients to address the research aims and objectives. The interviews will take place at St James' Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Each participant will have one interview conducted by Gillian Williams, Senior specialist Oncology Dietitian. The interview will last approximately 45 minutes and will be audio-recorded and the recordings will be transformed into written text by the process of transcription. Following transcription of all the interviews the data will be analysed by Gillian Williams using thematic analysis.REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
14/WS/1072
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion