Caring for patients with oral cancer in Taiwan: The challenges faced by family caregivers

Abstract

Family caregivers face multiple challenges when caring for patients with oral cancer at home. Understanding the difficulties they face may assist health professionals to better organise and provide support for family caregivers of oral cancer patients. The aim of this study was to describe the caregivers' primary tasks and the difficulties they encounter when caring for a family member with oral cancer. This qualitative study included a purposeful sample of 22 primary family caregivers ranging in age from 25 to 71 years old. The researchers used face-to-face, semi-structured and tape-recorded interviews to collect data and employed qualitative content analysis to elicit caregiving-related themes. Six task-related themes and associated challenges were identified. These included managing the patient's nutritional issues, investigating and making decisions about patient care, managing sudden and unpredictable changes in the patient's condition, managing emotional distress, adjusting their attitudes towards patient care, and seeking resources. Family caregivers handle such essential tasks when they care for patients in home settings and they face specific challenges related to them. This study identified several challenges related to each task. From the outset, healthcare providers should actively offer caregiving information and strategies. Health professionals can incorporate strategies for supporting caregivers' ability to carry out these tasks into their treatment model and can help caregivers manage difficulties that can impede them from doing so.

Effects of continuity of care on the postradiotherapy survival of working-age patients with oral cavity cancer: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan

“…The exclusion criteria for the recruitment of patients into the working-age oral cavity cancer group were as follows: (1) age> 65 years or ≤20 years, (2) follow-up period of <0.5 years, (3) incomplete data, and (4) patients with <three outpatient visits during the COC period. Because individuals from the working-age group are the main source of family income and care, the earlier age onset and short expected lifespan (3 years) in cases of oral cavity cancer in Taiwan have a considerably negative effect on the entire society and country [4]. Therefore, we investigated the survival of working-age oral cancer patients who had received a complete course of RT.…”

“…Approximately 354,864 new diagnoses of oral cancer and 177,384oral-cancer-related deaths were reported in 2018 [3]. Oral cancer is the fifth most common cause of mortality in Taiwan and the fourth most common cause of mortality among Taiwanese men [4, 5]. In addition, an increasing trend has been observed in the incidence of oral cancer among Taiwanese men [6].…”

Ginsenoside M1 Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits the Migration of Human Oral Cancer Cells

“…The most common subtype of oral cancer is the aggressive neoplasm present in oral epithelial cells known as squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) [ 4 ]. Generally, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, or a combination of any or all of these therapies, are the treatment options available for oral cancer patients [ 5 , 6 ]. Although these treatment strategies provide temporary relief, they have significant drawbacks in terms of physical, physiological, and financial restrictions on patients [ 5 , 7 ].…”

“…Generally, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, or a combination of any or all of these therapies, are the treatment options available for oral cancer patients [ 5 , 6 ]. Although these treatment strategies provide temporary relief, they have significant drawbacks in terms of physical, physiological, and financial restrictions on patients [ 5 , 7 ]. In particular, treatment with radiation and chemicals frequently causes severe inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract and pharynx along with several masticatory disorders, physiological dysfunctions, nausea, and vomiting [ 5 , 8 ].…”

“…Although these treatment strategies provide temporary relief, they have significant drawbacks in terms of physical, physiological, and financial restrictions on patients [ 5 , 7 ]. In particular, treatment with radiation and chemicals frequently causes severe inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract and pharynx along with several masticatory disorders, physiological dysfunctions, nausea, and vomiting [ 5 , 8 ]. Better therapeutics are required to meet the medical needs of OSCC patients.…”