請不要看到我的“缺口”：口腔癌患者罹癌歷程與因應之探討

Please do not look at “my mouth”: the process of seeking health care by patients with oral cancer and their coping strategies

目標：口腔癌發生率逐年攀升且以青壯年男性為主，其治療過程漫長又擔心有復發的危險，且因治療或副作用恐造成臉部外觀與口腔功能異常。本研究目的為探討口腔癌病患之罹癌歷程以及因應。方法：本研究為質性研究法，採立意取樣的方式，針對13位罹患口腔癌個案進行面對面深度訪談，將訪談資料轉成逐字稿進行內容分析。結果：將口腔癌患者之罹病歷程分為：診斷期、治療期、以及追蹤期等三個歷程，並分析其求醫歷程與因應。結論：建議醫院的工作者面對口腔癌個案應評估其所處階段，分別提供所需之服務與資源，以協助病患本身與家屬因應罹患癌症之求醫歷程。

Objectives: The incidence of oral cancer rises annually, and new patients are primarily young men. The treatment for oral cancer is a lengthy process and this disease is prone to recurrence. In addition, the treatment and its side effects often result in an abnormal facial appearance and oral dysfunction. This study investigated the process of seeking health care by patients with oral cancer and their coping strategies. Methods: Adopting a qualitative research design, we used a purposive sampling method to conduct in-depth face-to-face interviews with 13 patients with oral cancer. The interview data were later converted into transcripts for content analysis. Results: The course of seeking health care was divided into 3 stages: initially seeking health care, treatment, and follow-up. We then analyzed the process in terms of patient condition and coping strategies during these 3 stages. Conclusions: We recommend that hospital employees be educated to provide assistance in evaluating the stage of patients with oral cancer in order to meet the needs of these patients and their families appropriately.