The experiences of head and neck patients receiving tube feeding v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experiences of head and neck patients receiving enteral nutrition: A phenomenological approach.
IRAS ID
192090
Contact name
SIAN LEWIS
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients suffer acute side effects during radical radiotherapy that affects their ability to eat and drink. Whilst many require enteral nutrition, via a gastrostomy (G) or nasogastric (NG) tube, there is unclear evidence to aid decision making between the two methods. A Cochrane review concluded no preferred option (Nugent et al 2010). Limited qualitative data exists examining the patient’s experiences of enteral nutrition and its impact on daily living (Mayre-Chilton et al 2011; Osborne et al 2012; Penner et al 2012; Kwong et al 2014).
There is a gap in the research comparing patients’ experiences between the two methods of enteral nutrition, G and NG tube. Such work will form the basis of knowledge to help guide registered dietitians, alongside other health care professionals, improve current service provision and care for these patients.
The aim of this study is to gain an insight and understanding of the patient’s experience of enteral nutrition, both G and NG tube, during radical radiotherapy for HNC.
An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach will be used. A purposive sample will be recruited and interviewed using open-ended questions. All participants will have been diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, received radical radiotherapy with/ without chemotherapy and surgery or combination. Demographic data will be obtained from the participants to describe characteristics of the sample group. All interviews will be digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim by the lead investigator. Analysis of data to identify emerging themes and patterns across each transcript will be performed as described by Smith et al (2009) until data saturation is achieved and no further conclusions can be drawn.
The overall outcomes from the study will be to assist dietitians across the South Wales cancer network develop guidelines to support HNC patients requiring enteral nutrition, which will be implemented and evaluated.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
16/WA/0201
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion