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Head and Neck Surgery

Personal Social Networks and Care-Seeking for Head and Neck Cancer

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
10:54 AM - 11:00 AM East Coast USA Time
Location: 201AB

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Sana Batool, BA

    Medical Student
    Harvard Medical School, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
    Boston, MA, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Elisabeth E. Hansen, MD

    Resident
    Mass Eye and Ear
    Boston, MA, United States

  • RS

    Rosh Sethi, MD, MPH

    Division of Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States

  • Eleni M. Rettig, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School
    Boston, MA, United States

  • AD

    Amar Dhand, MD PhD

    Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, Network Science Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Regan W. Bergmark, MD, MPH

    Assistant Professor Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rhinology and Skull Base
    Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School
    Chestnut Hill, MA, United States

Disclosure(s):
Eleni M. Rettig, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Introduction: Personal social networks influence health-related behaviors and health outcomes across a range of diseases. We sought to describe head and neck cancer (HNC) patients’ social networks and their role in care-seeking.

Methods: In this ongoing prospective cohort study, adults age ≥18 years with a new HNC were recruited from a tertiary HNC clinic between June and November 2022. Patient surveys were conducted within six months of their cancer diagnosis, using a validated personal social network survey instrument. Survey results, including network variables and network members’ roles, were analyzed using quantitative network science methods.

Results: Forty-seven HNC patients (mean age 59 years [range 19-85], 60% female, 87% white, 55% college graduate, 62% married) completed the survey. Average network size was 8 people (range 4-24). 87% of patients consulted ≥1 network member before seeking care for symptoms, of whom 16% consulted >4 members. 45% of patients reported their network influenced them to seek care sooner than they otherwise would have. 34% of patients reported an influence of their network on where to seek care and 23% reported an influence on which provider to seek care with. All patients reported receiving health-related support from ≥1 network member.

Conclusions: Nearly half of patients presented earlier because of the effects of their personal social network. HNC patients’ social networks are varied and play an important role in their care-seeking behavior. Social network-based interventions may be important for timely care of HNC patients.