title: Lymphedema self-care in patients with head and neck cancer: a qualitative study.
abstract: Lymphedema is a frequent side effect from head and neck cancer and/or its treatment. As a chronic and progressive condition, it requires an individual's long-term involvement in self-care for management of lymphedema. This study aimed to report head and neck cancer patients' perceived lymphedema education, self-care practices, and suggestions related to self-care of head and neck lymphedema.
  
  
  
  Twenty head and neck cancer patients who completed lymphedema therapy participated in semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used to analyze the interview data.
  
  
  
  All participants reported that they were educated about self-care activities for lymphedema management by their lymphedema therapists. Although most participants (n = 16, 80 %) expressed positive comments about lymphedema self-care education, some participants (n = 7, 35 %) described issues related to lymphedema self-care education. A majority of the participants (n = 17, 85 %) reported that they were conducting some lymphedema self-care activities; nonetheless, more than half of the participants (n = 11, 55 %) delineated barriers for diminished lymphedema self-care activities over time. Participants further indicated suggestions for improving and ensuring consistency of lymphedema self-care.
  
  
  
  Opportunities exist to improve lymphedema self-care in head and neck cancer patients. Healthcare professionals should focus on delivering high quality and targeted information about self-care for management of head and neck lymphedema. Interventional research is warranted to address gaps in long-term self-care of head and neck lymphedema.
authors: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Ave. South, Godchaux Hall 516, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA. jie.deng@vanderbilt.edu.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Deng
authors: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Ave. South, Godchaux Hall 516, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA.
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Experience; Head and neck cancer; Lymphedema; Qualitative; Self-care; Self-management