Life after Head and Neck Cancer - version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding pathways to post-traumatic growth: informing intervention development in head and neck cancer survivors.
IRAS ID
259676
Contact name
Linda Sharp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 20 days
Research summary
Cancers of the head and neck adversely affect many everyday functions (e.g. speech, swallowing, breathing), making it important to develop services (“interventions”) to improve survivors’ lives and quality-of-life. This research has been funded by the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Charity as a study that could lead towards further funding to develop and evaluate such an intervention.
Some people experience post-traumatic growth in response to traumatic events, such as a head and neck cancer diagnosis. Post-traumatic growth happens when someone reflects on their experiences and looks for meaning in them. In a previous study, we found post-traumatic growth in 60% of head and neck cancer survivors and better quality of life in those reporting post-traumatic growth. However, we do not yet know how post-traumatic growth develops following a head and neck cancer diagnosis, and what helps and hinders its development.
The aim of this research is to understand how post-traumatic growth occurs. We will interview up to 30 head and neck cancer survivors who are under the care of specialists in Newcastle and Sunderland. We will explore their cancer experiences, coping, adjustment and any positive consequences of having cancer. Our ultimate goal is use the findings from this study to design an intervention which encourages post-traumatic growth in head and neck cancer, thereby leading to improved quality of life.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
19/NS/0106
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion