Understanding Patients and Caregivers expectations on the Treatment for Advanced Oral Cancer: A Prospective Mixed-Methods Study. (UPTAKE Study)

This prospective mixed methods study aims to understand the expectations of patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma and their caregivers regarding treatment outcomes, quality of life, and recovery. The study will explore how these expectations evolve over different time points of treatment and follow up, including before therapy, within one year after completion of therapy, and more than one year after treatment. Quantitative data will be collected using validated questionnaires such as the Treatment Expectation Questionnaire (TEX Q) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for Head and Neck Cancer (ICF HNC) priorities checklist. Qualitative data will be obtained through semi structured interviews with patients and caregivers to explore emotional, psychological, and social concerns. The findings will help identify key expectations and gaps between expected and actual experiences, thereby improving patient centered communication and shared decision making in the management of advanced oral cancer. The study hypothesis is that patient and caregiver expectations vary across the course of treatment and are influenced by sociodemographic and communication factors.