Experiences of xerostomia after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer: A qualitative study

Aims and objectives To describe the experiences of radiation‐induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. Background Xerostomia is the most commonly occurring complication during and following radiotherapy. It can persist for several months or years and can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Design This was a qualitative descriptive study. Methods Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 20 participants. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Results Analysis of the manifest content identified five categories: communication problems, physical problems, psychosocial problems, treatment problems and relief strategies. The latent content was formulated into a theme: due to lack of information from professionals, the patients had to find their own solutions for their problems. Conclusions Xerostomia is not only a biophysical symptom but also has a profound effect on the emotional, intellectual and sociocultural dimensions of life. The majority of patients continued to suffer from xerostomia and its associated symptoms after radiotherapy, in part, because of a lack of professional support, including the inability of nurses to provide oral health care. Relevance to clinical practice Nurses need to be knowledgeable about the effects of radiotherapy on oral mucosa and about appropriate interventions. The healthcare system requires a symptom management platform for radiation‐induced complications, to help patients, their families and healthcare professionals obtain information about self‐care, treatments and relief strategies.