Development of a Rehabilitation Planning Consult for Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer

Evaluation of a rehabilitation planning consult for survivors of head and neck cancer

“…Although the withdrawal rate was high, it was comparable to the withdrawal rate during our developmental phase . With nearly half of eligible participants enrolling, recruitment of larger numbers for a randomized controlled trial will be feasible.…”

“…A convenience sample of participants was recruited from patients scheduled at head and neck cancer clinics staffed by 5 radiation oncologists and 1 surgical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, with a recruitment target of 35. The targeted sample size was 25 but the recruitment target was increased to 35 based on withdrawal estimates from an earlier phase of the project . The eligibility criterion was adult survivors of head and neck cancer who had completed curative treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or any combination thereof) within the last 18 months.…”

“…The targeted sample size was 25 but the recruitment target was increased to 35 based on withdrawal estimates from an earlier phase of the project. 10 The eligibility criterion was adult survivors of head and neck cancer who had completed curative treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or any combination thereof) within the last 18 months. Exclusion criteria were lack of English fluency, cognitive impairment, residual/recurrent cancer, or concurrent major degenerative conditions F IGUR E 1 Assessment timeline.…”

“…Using intervention mapping, our research group has conducted a multiphase project to develop and test a rehabilitation planning consult (RPC) for survivors of head and neck cancer with the aim of improving access to rehabilitation services. The protocol for the larger project was previously published, as was an article describing the RPC, its theoretical foundations, and preliminary implementation feasibility . The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the novel RPC in preparation for a larger, randomized controlled trial.…”

“…The protocol for the larger project was previously published, 9 as was an article describing the RPC, its theoretical foundations, and preliminary implementation feasibility. 10 The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the novel RPC in preparation for a larger, randomized controlled trial. The specific objectives were: (1) estimate the recruitment and withdrawal rates, and the number and type of adverse events; and (2) estimate the effect of the RPC on goal attainment, health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), participation, and self-efficacy related to self-management skills in survivors of head and neck cancer, postintervention, and at follow-up.…”