Experience of palliative care for patients with head and neck cancer through the eyes of next of kin: impact of an Expert Center.

Background: Literature is scarce on the palliative care experiences of patients with head and neck cancer. We report our experience in this patient population after the establishment of our Expert Center.

Methods: We administered a questionnaire to 40 surviving relatives of patients with head and neck cancer after the establishment of our Expert Center and compared the results to a similar group of patients with head and neck cancer before the establishment of our Expert Center.

Results: Since the establishment of our Expert Center, we found: an improved evaluation of the psychosocial support offered; better contact between head and neck surgeons, the patients, and families; and improvement in the quantity of information in the palliative phase. Some relatives, however, reported that patients received treatment against their wishes and life was not made as comfortable as possible.

Conclusion: Important aspects of palliative care, such as psychosocial support and contact between patient and surgeon, have been improved since the establishment of our Expert Center.