In a bad place: Carers of patients with head and neck cancer experiences of travelling for cancer treatment

To explore the effect that treatment-related commuting has on carers of patients with head and neck cancer. Semi-structured interviews, thematically analysed, with 31 carers. Treatment-related commuting had a considerable impact on carers of patients with head and neck cancer, both in practical term...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society 2017-10, Vol.30, p.29-34
Main Authors: Balfe, Myles, Keohane, Kieran, O’ Brien, Katie, Gooberman-Hill, Rachael, Maguire, Rebecca, Hanly, Paul, O’ Sullivan, Eleanor, Sharp, Linda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Caregivers - psychology
Caregiving
Carer
Commuting
Female
Head and neck cancer
Head and Neck Neoplasms - psychology
Head and Neck Neoplasms - therapy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing
Qualitative
Stress, Psychological
Travel
Travel - psychology
Treatment
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Summary:To explore the effect that treatment-related commuting has on carers of patients with head and neck cancer. Semi-structured interviews, thematically analysed, with 31 carers. Treatment-related commuting had a considerable impact on carers of patients with head and neck cancer, both in practical terms (economic costs, disruption) and also in psychological terms. Many carers of patients with head and neck cancer described becoming distressed by their commute. Some carers from large urban cities appeared to have hidden commuting burdens. Some carers respond to commuting stress by ‘zoning out’ or becoming ‘like zombies’. Treatment-related travel for head and neck cancer can have significant practical and psychological impacts. Health professionals should be aware of the impacts that commuting can have on head and neck caregivers. Health services may be able to take practical steps, such as providing subsidized parking, to address head and neck carergivers’ difficulties. •Treatment-related commuting can be extremely stressful for head and neck carers.•Head and neck carers can deal with commuting by ‘zoning out’ or becoming ‘like zombies’.•Urban cancer commuters may have hidden commuting burdens.
ISSN:1462-3889
1532-2122
DOI:10.1016/j.ejon.2017.07.001