Exploring head and neck cancer patients' experiences with radiation therapy immobilisation masks: A qualitative study

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients commonly undergo radiation therapy requiring immobilisation by a mask. Some find the mask distressing, and this can disrupt treatment sessions. This study aimed to explore the patient experience of immobilisation masks in the Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) context, to guide possible intervention.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with HNC patients who had completed radiation therapy, recruited via hospitals and social media. Interviews continued until data saturation; then, three further interviews were conducted for member-checking purposes. Qualitative methodology with thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the data.

Twenty HNC survivors participated in interviews, and seven themes were identified: information received by participants, potential predictors of mask anxiety, participant reactions to the mask, trajectories of mask anxiety, supportive behaviour and communication of health professionals, coping with the mask, and thoughts and feelings about the mask.

Participant experiences of the immobilisation mask were diverse. The findings fit with Lazarus and Folkman's (Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York, NY: Springer Pub. Co) transactional model of stress and coping, as participants appeared to make cognitive appraisals of the mask and their coping abilities throughout treatment, resulting in varied levels of mask-related distress. Complex intervention is recommended to reduce mask anxiety in HNC patients across ANZ.