Exploring how People with Head and Neck Cancer Experience Psychosocial Support in Aotearoa New Zealand

<p><strong>This thesis explores the psychological and social support experiences of people with head and neck cancer (HNC) in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Treatment for this type of cancer can result in significant functional challenges, resulting in people needing a range of psychological and social support; yet awareness about and understandings of HNC remain limited. This study is grounded in social constructionism as the theoretical framework, using “conditional compassion” as a guiding theoretical concept (Gibson et al., 2017), to explore how people with HNC experience psychosocial support from those around them. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants diagnosed with HNC within the last 10 years, residing in Aotearoa NZ, and aged 18 or older at the time of diagnosis. Recruitment was supported by the Cancer Service at Wellington Hospital, the Cancer Society, and an HNC Facebook support group. Ultimately, 11 participants (10 people with cancer, 1 carer) took part in the study, ranging in age from 18 to 79. The majority were Pākehā/NZ European, with seven female and four male participants. They lived in a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas across Aotearoa NZ. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and a reflexive thematic analysis was employed to examine how people with HNC construct and navigate their illness experiences in light of the psychosocial support they receive. Two overarching themes were identified from the analysis. The first theme, ‘Challenges and Roadblocks in Healthcare Access,’ highlights the delays in diagnosis that can occur, largely owing to limited awareness of HNC symptoms among both healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the public. The second theme, ‘Networks of Care – Understanding Support System Dynamics,’ underscores the collective nature of the HNC journey, with whānau/family playing a crucial support role, often leading to shifts in family responsibilities. The findings of this study illustrate how access to care and support might be shaped by geographical disparities, gendered expectations, and the dynamics of professional-patient relationships. Furthermore, they emphasise the need for greater awareness of HNC in Aotearoa NZ and the development of more comprehensive psychosocial support systems that recognise the social and cultural factors shaping people’s experiences. Addressing these challenges also requires a shift toward more patient-centred, holistic models of care that acknowledge the complex realities of living with HNC.</strong></p>