title: Development and preliminary evaluation of a rehabilitation consult for survivors of head and neck cancer: an intervention mapping protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests that rehabilitation interventions can improve function and quality of life in survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC), but there is a lack of coordinated, integrated services, and those offered are inconsistent. To address these gaps, we will develop and conduct preliminary evaluation of a rehabilitation consult, built on the theoretical foundations of goal setting and self-management, and composed of a brief functional evaluation, a resource compendium, and collaborative goal-setting and action planning processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The development of the rehabilitation consult will be guided by intervention mapping, which consists of six steps: 1. Needs assessment; 2. Definition of program objectives; 3. Selection of theory-based intervention methods; 4. Production and pretesting; 5. Adoption, implementation and sustainability planning; 6. Process and effect evaluation. Within the intervention mapping framework, an iterative process of constructing drafts and mini-evaluations with consumers and experts will be used, modifying the rehabilitation consult intervention until a version suitable for formal evaluation is established. The rehabilitation consult will then be evaluated using a prospective, mixed method, single group design with 30 survivors of head and neck cancer. Outcomes will be assessed pre- and post-intervention and at 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survivors of head and neck cancer have among the most complex rehabilitation needs of all cancer patients. The rehabilitation consult is expected to improve knowledge and uptake of rehabilitation resources and strategies in survivors of head and neck cancer and thereby improve long-term function and quality of life. If the rehabilitation consult is effective in cancer patients with such high and diverse needs, this project will produce a toolkit that will be adaptable for other types of cancer in other jurisdictions.
authors.affiliation: St. John's Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 285 Cummer Avenue, Toronto, ON, M2M 2G1, Canada. sara.mcewen@utoronto.ca.|Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. sara.mcewen@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. adavis@uhnresearch.ca.|Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada. adavis@uhnresearch.ca.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. adavis@uhnresearch.ca.
authors.forename: Aileen M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Cancer Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. jennifer.jones@uhn.ca.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. jennifer.jones@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada. rosemary.martino@utoronto.ca.|Department of Speech Language Pathology, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. rosemary.martino@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada. ian.poon@sunnybrook.ca.|Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. ian.poon@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada. ana.rodriguez@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. jolie.ringash@rmp.uhn.on.ca.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada. jolie.ringash@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
authors.forename: Jolie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ringash
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation