Patient experience after TL
Research type
Research Study
Full title
To investigate patient experience, practice and decision making in managing a tracheostoma, swallowing and a voice prosthesis following total laryngectomy.
IRAS ID
316427
Contact name
Jo-Anne Robertson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lothian
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
There is a growing concern amongst practicing head and neck clinicians that the care laryngectomy patients receive is not satisfactory. Literature has recommended that patients themselves should have the opportunity to influence their care in the immediate and long-term but no studies to this end have been published.
The literature to date surrounding laryngectomy has focused on voice prosthesis related issues including lifespan and complications associated with having this prosthetic device. The problems patients having in dealing with surgical voice restoration and/or a stoma or other non SVR related communication difficulties are a significant gap in evidence-based practice.
The purpose of this study is to investigate patient experience, practice and decision making in seeking help for tracheostoma, voice and/or swallowing difficulties following total laryngectomy.
A secondary aim, is to design a Laryngectomy Service Evaluation questionnaire based around the themes of how and when patients access Speech and Language Therapy and Out of Hours services, and what the barriers to assistance are.
The study methodology will be semi-structured qualitative interviews lasting no more than 1 hour conducted at St John's Hospital, Livingston or via a virtual platform, Near Me. 10 patients will be recruited from the population of total laryngectomy service users attending Lothian NHS trust. Purposive sampling will be used to ensure a diverse group of patients. Thematic analysis will be used to identify common themes amongst patients, and a short summary of these will be shared with volunteers.
The results from the thematic analysis will be used to design a Laryngectomy Service Evaluation Questionnaire, which will be sent to a panel of experts for their comments before sending it back for ethical review (as an amendment to this application) and then to the patient volunteers for their feedback. Following this, the questionnaire will be amended.REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0253
Date of REC Opinion
4 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion