eHealth Support Tool to Improve Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
eHealth Support Tool to Improve Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
This study evaluates the development, implementation and effectiveness of a nurse-led eHealth support tool designed to improve quality of life and survivorship outcomes among adults treated for head and neck cancer. The intervention integrates symptom monitoring, self-management education, and structured survivorship support into routine follow-up care. Outcomes will include patient-reported quality of life, symptom burden, and healthcare utilization.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors experience significant long-term physical, functional, and psychosocial sequelae including dysphagia, speech impairment, fatigue, pain, and psychological distress. Traditional follow-up models rely on periodic clinic visits and may not adequately support self-management.
This study involves three phases:
Development of a co-designed eHealth support platform.
Implementation of the intervention within survivorship care pathways.
Evaluation of clinical effectiveness using patient-reported outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics.
The intervention integrates:
Symptom tracking Educational resources Self-management tools Structured nurse-guided follow-up
The primary hypothesis is that structured digital survivorship support will improve global quality of life compared to usual follow-up care.
Inclusion Criteria:
Adults ≥18 years Diagnosed with head and neck cancer Completed primary treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or combination) Within 12 months post-treatment Access to smartphone/tablet/internet Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Recurrent or metastatic disease requiring active treatment Significant cognitive impairment Inability to use digital device Non-English speakers (if tool not multilingual)