Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years
Background: The Community Head and Neck Team (CHANT) is an award winning multi-disciplinary team provided by Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients across South East London post-treatment for head and neck cancer. In 2022, CHANT was expanded to include a dedicated...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Oral Oncology Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772906025000494 |
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| author | Darren P. Reynolds Samantha J. Tordesillas Ashlie Denison Abigail Legg |
| author_facet | Darren P. Reynolds Samantha J. Tordesillas Ashlie Denison Abigail Legg |
| author_sort | Darren P. Reynolds |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The Community Head and Neck Team (CHANT) is an award winning multi-disciplinary team provided by Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients across South East London post-treatment for head and neck cancer. In 2022, CHANT was expanded to include a dedicated psychology service. This study aimed to audit all psychology referrals to date, evaluate patient reported outcome measures, and explore patient feedback to inform future service development. Methods: A retrospective audit of head and neck cancer patients who were referred to the CHANT Psychology Service between September 2022 and February 2025 was conducted. Routine clinical outcomes were analysed at assessment and at discharge from the service, and additional qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted using patient feedback forms from those who completed therapy. Results: A total of 247 referrals were received (56.7 % male; mean age = 59.1 years). Primary reasons for referral included adjustment difficulties (44.1 %), low mood (28.7 %), and anxiety regarding health (18.6 %) amongst others. Statistically significant reductions in symptoms of low mood and anxiety, improved HRQoL, and reduced psychological inflexibility were observed. Patient feedback was overwhelmingly positive indicating psychological support was valued and beneficial. Conclusion: To our knowledge, the CHANT Psychology Service is the only dedicated community-based head and neck cancer psychology service in the UK. Audit and evaluation findings highlight the need for such a service and suggest it is both effective and acceptable in terms of its current service delivery. Ongoing data collection will support further evaluation and guide future development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24ce45e019c24d7daf419ca88d155c81 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2772-9060 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oral Oncology Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-24ce45e019c24d7daf419ca88d155c812025-08-20T02:57:35ZengElsevierOral Oncology Reports2772-90602025-09-011510076110.1016/j.oor.2025.100761Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two yearsDarren P. Reynolds0Samantha J. Tordesillas1Ashlie Denison2Abigail Legg3Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Corresponding author. Clinical Psychologist, Community Head and Neck Team (CHANT), Suite 10 - The Waldron Health Centre, Amersham Vale, London, SE14 6LD, UK.South East London Cancer Alliance, London, UKGuy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKGuy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKBackground: The Community Head and Neck Team (CHANT) is an award winning multi-disciplinary team provided by Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients across South East London post-treatment for head and neck cancer. In 2022, CHANT was expanded to include a dedicated psychology service. This study aimed to audit all psychology referrals to date, evaluate patient reported outcome measures, and explore patient feedback to inform future service development. Methods: A retrospective audit of head and neck cancer patients who were referred to the CHANT Psychology Service between September 2022 and February 2025 was conducted. Routine clinical outcomes were analysed at assessment and at discharge from the service, and additional qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted using patient feedback forms from those who completed therapy. Results: A total of 247 referrals were received (56.7 % male; mean age = 59.1 years). Primary reasons for referral included adjustment difficulties (44.1 %), low mood (28.7 %), and anxiety regarding health (18.6 %) amongst others. Statistically significant reductions in symptoms of low mood and anxiety, improved HRQoL, and reduced psychological inflexibility were observed. Patient feedback was overwhelmingly positive indicating psychological support was valued and beneficial. Conclusion: To our knowledge, the CHANT Psychology Service is the only dedicated community-based head and neck cancer psychology service in the UK. Audit and evaluation findings highlight the need for such a service and suggest it is both effective and acceptable in terms of its current service delivery. Ongoing data collection will support further evaluation and guide future development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772906025000494Head and neck cancerService evaluationHealth-related quality of lifePsychological distressMental healthIntegrated care |
| spellingShingle | Darren P. Reynolds Samantha J. Tordesillas Ashlie Denison Abigail Legg Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years Oral Oncology Reports Head and neck cancer Service evaluation Health-related quality of life Psychological distress Mental health Integrated care |
| title | Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years |
| title_full | Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years |
| title_fullStr | Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years |
| title_short | Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years |
| title_sort | implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi disciplinary community head and neck cancer team preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years |
| topic | Head and neck cancer Service evaluation Health-related quality of life Psychological distress Mental health Integrated care |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772906025000494 |
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