Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the aspects of quality of life (QOL) in survivors of head and neck cancer in the first five years after treatment, and nursing intervention to enhance the QOL. Semi-structured interviews with twelve survivors were conducted to elucidate their perception of their life experiences, and qualitative data were analyzed.
Ten themes and positive aspects describing meaning-of-life experiences indicated three life processes with a significant impact on QOL: (a) coping with the possibility of head and neck cancer relapse, (b) making compromises that inconvenience on one's own life, and (c) accepting one's present condition.
These findings indicated six nursing interventions to enhance the QOL in survivors of head and neck cancer: (a) properly responding to the anxiety of cancer relapse, (b) improving self-care ability to meet basic needs,(c) enhancing motivation to rehabilitate, (d) facilitating proper family social support, (e) encouraging socialization to maintain relationships with others, and (f) facilitating awareness of one's own positive changes.
