Experiences and perceptions of social eating for patients living with and beyond head and neck cancer: a qualitative study

Purpose Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) describe eating as more than a physical activity for nutrition and calories. After treatment for HNC, patients report a changed social experience around food, with eating and drinking in front of
family and friends depicted as a challenge. However, there is limited research exploring how patients with HNC adapt and
cope with social eating difculties. This study aims to explore patients’ experiences and perceptions of social eating and
drinking following treatment for HNC.
Methods A qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews was employed to understand the experiences of
social eating of patients living with and beyond HNC. Refexive thematic analysis was used to inductively develop key
themes from the data.
Results Fourteen interviews were conducted with patients, and two key themes were identifed: (1) “Social eating became
a conscious process” and (2) “Strategies to maximise social eating participation”. To maximise social eating enjoyment,
patients attempted to minimise the attention on their eating function and the fuss created around food. Patients with HNC
established psychological and cognitive adaptations to manage expectations and promote positive participation in social
eating.
Conclusion This paper identifes key barriers limiting or diminishing social eating for patients with HNC; including being
self-conscious, lack of understanding from others and functional issues with eating and drinking. This research highlights the
need to raise awareness of social eating challenges and for the social dimensions of eating to be addressed through familycentred, supportive holistic interventions implemented early in the patient’s cancer journey