Clinical encounter experiences of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a commonly occurring cancer among Hong Kong Chinese, especially in the relatively young population group. Since the disease carries a favorable prognosis, sequelae following treatment have become an important concern for patients suffering from NPC, particularly because of the strong interplay of psychological, social, and biological issues during their rehabilitation. In this qualitative study, in-depth, semistructured audiotaped interviews were undertaken with 32 patients receiving rehabilitation at the physiotherapy department of a regional teaching hospital in Hong Kong. The objective of the study was to examine the rehabilitation experiences of NPC survivors to identify factors that contributed to a satisfying clinical encounter experience. During the study, data collection and analysis using a grounded theory approach were concurrently conducted. The 3 main themes that shaped the rehabilitation experiences of NPC survivors were the patient-clinician relationship, participation in therapeutic alliance, and quality rehabilitation service provision. These, together with the identified needs of the participants, contributed to the participants' perceived health-related quality of life. A constructive clinical experience was perceived when their needs were met. The findings highlight the importance of patient-centeredness in the treatment delivery and a multifaceted role of clinicians in meeting the needs of this group of cancer survivors.