Balfe, Myles and Keohane, Kieran and O'Brien, Katie and Gooberman-Hill, Rachael and Maguire, Rebecca and Hanly, Paul and O'Sullivan, Eleanor and Sharp, Linda (2017) In a bad place: Carers of patients with head and neck cancer experiences of travelling for cancer treatment. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 30. pp. 29-34. ISSN 1462-3889

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Abstract

Purpose: To explore the effect that treatment-related commuting has on carers of patients with head and neck cancer. Method: Semi-structured interviews, thematically analysed, with 31 carers. Results: 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’. Conclusions: 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.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Head and neck cancer; Carer; Caregiving; Commuting; Travel; Treatment; Qualitative;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	11641
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2017.07.001
Depositing User:	Rebecca Maguire
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2019 17:02
Journal or Publication Title:	European Journal of Oncology Nursing
Publisher:	Elsevier
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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