Eating Together After Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Eating Together After Cancer Jan C. Pryor Kathryn YorkstonDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine Introduction: Although treatment for medical aspects of dysphagia due to head and neck cancer is well established, knowledge of the range and extent of psychosocial issues related to the impact of dysphagia on social eating specifically has not been clearly determined. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to explore the psychosocial impact of eating with others on people with dysphagia due to head and neck cancer. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study that utilized focus groups of people with dysphagia to identify key topics related to social eating. These data were used to develop a survey to quantify the range and extent of the psychosocial impact of dysphagia on social eating. Results: Survey data from 53 participants with dysphagia due to head and neck cancer were collected. Findings revealed psychosocial issues related to social eating were common in this participant sample (average time since completion of treatment, 6 years, range 6 months—23 years). Data analysis revealed there were no statistically significant differences in the extent of psychosocial impact between home and public settings. In addition, statistically significant differences in psychosocial impact were not found across a range of topics by people of different swallowing severity levels, with two exceptions. People with severe dysphagia reported that family members went out to eat less frequently due to dysphagia (p < 0.05), and perceived that swallowing problems embarrassed people they eat with in public more than people with mild or moderate dysphagia respectively (p <0.05). People with dysphagia also noticed family members were impacted by dysphagia. Conclusion: Negative social consequences of dysphagia related to eating with others were commonly reported in this study. The persistence of social consequences for years after treatment by people with all levels of swallowing severity suggests the importance of screening for psychosocial issues related to social eating. Investigators hope this study provides increased awareness of the social consequences of dysphagia as well as useful strategies to support people with dysphagia. This study may assist in the development of future assessment tools.