Patient Experience of Preirradiation Dental Screening Prior to Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the preirradiation dental screening experiences of patients with head and neck cancer and how this understanding can contribute to the enhancement of nursing practice. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: In 2022 and 2023, patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer with planned radiation th...

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Publicado en:Oncology Nursing Forum Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 1 - 11
Autores principales: Deisner, Annemette, Nielsen, Camilla Bille, Johansen, Ann-Mari Singers, Nielsen, Charlotte, Forner, Lone
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Oncology Nursing Society Jul2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
      vid: 53
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      pub: Oncology Nursing Society
      place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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        atl: Patient Experience of Preirradiation Dental Screening Prior to Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.
      aug:
        au:
          Deisner, Annemette
          Nielsen, Camilla Bille
          Johansen, Ann-Mari Singers
          Nielsen, Charlotte
          Forner, Lone
        affil: Clinical nurse specialist and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Zealand University Hospital in K0ge, Denmark
      sug:
        subj:
          Cancer Patients Psychosocial Factors
          Head and Neck Neoplasms Radiotherapy
          Dental Care Methods
          Health Screening Psychosocial Factors
          Life Experiences Evaluation
          Patient Attitudes Evaluation
          Human
          Interview Guides
          Male
          Female
          Denmark
          Qualitative Studies
          Interviews
          Purposive Sample
          Thematic Analysis
          Phenomenological Research
          Oncology Nursing
          Anxiety
          Stress, Psychological
          Academic Medical Centers Denmark
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Open-Ended Questionnaires
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: PURPOSE: To explore the preirradiation dental screening experiences of patients with head and neck cancer and how this understanding can contribute to the enhancement of nursing practice. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: In 2022 and 2023, patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer with planned radiation therapy were recruited. The study was conducted at a university hospital in Denmark, where preirradiation dental screening is an integrated component of the fast-track cancer pathway. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: A qualitative, phenomenologic-hermeneutic design was applied, employing semistructured telephone interviews with 10 patients. Detailed field notes were used to construct individual patient narratives. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to capture the depth and variation in patients' lived experiences. FINDINGS: Four main themes were identified: anxiety for the future and the dentist, information overload, the stressful day, and confidence in efficiency. Overall, patient experiences clustered into two overarching patterns: compromised course and successful course. (CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE) IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Patients' experiences vary widely. Anxiety, information overload, and stressful logistics may compromise the patient's experience, whereas clear information and supportive interactions may result in confidence. It is recommended that nursing practice prioritize individual support using Henderson's model, ensuring that needs are addressed and managing information overload throughout the complex treatment process of preirradiation dental screening.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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