{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7225246289","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","title":"Optimizing radiation dermatitis management in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients undergoing radiotherapy: a qualitative study based on patient journey mapping","display_name":"Optimizing radiation dermatitis management in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients undergoing radiotherapy: a qualitative study based on patient journey mapping","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-11-04","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7225246289","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","pdf_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2597052008","display_name":"Frontiers in Medicine","issn_l":"2296-858X","issn":["2296-858X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","norway-1","poland-70","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320527","host_organization_name":"Frontiers Media","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320527"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Frontiers Media"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Medicine","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"gold","oa_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853/pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5158027335","display_name":"Rong Yu","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I3017480383","display_name":"Southwest Medical University","ror":"https://ror.org/00g2rqs52","country_code":"CN","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I3017480383"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4210086248","display_name":"Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","ror":"https://ror.org/0014a0n68","country_code":"CN","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Rong Yu","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","School of Nursing, Southwest Medical University"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Nursing, Southwest Medical University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I3017480383"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100728017","display_name":"Jing Fu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3795-1737","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3795-1737"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I3017480383","display_name":"Southwest Medical University","ror":"https://ror.org/00g2rqs52","country_code":"CN","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I3017480383"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jing Fu","raw_affiliation_strings":["School of Nursing, Southwest Medical University"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"School of Nursing, Southwest Medical University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I3017480383"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5042214181","display_name":"Wenqiong Ma","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4210086248","display_name":"Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","ror":"https://ror.org/0014a0n68","country_code":"CN","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Wenqiong Ma","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5102866888","display_name":"Yu Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9377-2891","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9377-2891"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4210086248","display_name":"Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","ror":"https://ror.org/0014a0n68","country_code":"CN","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Yu Li","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":2,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5102866888"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4210086248"],"apc_list":{"value":3150,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":3801},"apc_paid":{"value":3150,"currency":"CHF","value_usd":3801},"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.88762807,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":"13","issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12937","display_name":"Chemotherapy-related skin toxicity","score":0.9570000171661377,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2708","display_name":"Dermatology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12937","display_name":"Chemotherapy-related skin toxicity","score":0.9570000171661377,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2708","display_name":"Dermatology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10307","display_name":"Head and Neck Cancer Studies","score":0.008999999612569809,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2733","display_name":"Otorhinolaryngology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10178","display_name":"Cancer survivorship and care","score":0.006300000008195639,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2730","display_name":"Oncology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}}],"keywords":[],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C71924100","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11190","display_name":"Medicine","level":0,"score":0.8312000036239624},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778997737","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1693598","display_name":"Nasopharyngeal carcinoma","level":3,"score":0.6520000100135803},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C509974204","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180507","display_name":"Radiation therapy","level":2,"score":0.6280999779701233},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C139265228","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5283089","display_name":"Distress","level":2,"score":0.6164000034332275},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190248442","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486","display_name":"Qualitative research","level":2,"score":0.5274999737739563},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C81182388","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q353963","display_name":"Complication","level":2,"score":0.4643000066280365},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780012110","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5283100","display_name":"Distressing","level":2,"score":0.36899998784065247},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777896191","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22907655","display_name":"Patient experience","level":3,"score":0.35429999232292175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C141071460","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40821","display_name":"Surgery","level":1,"score":0.34869998693466187},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C1862650","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186005","display_name":"Physical therapy","level":1,"score":0.31709998846054077},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C140779682","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q210868","display_name":"Sampling (signal processing)","level":3,"score":0.31369999051094055},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2775944032","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22907659","display_name":"Patient satisfaction","level":2,"score":0.30880001187324524},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C177713679","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q679690","display_name":"Intensive care medicine","level":1,"score":0.3068000078201294},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779473830","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1540899","display_name":"MEDLINE","level":2,"score":0.30079999566078186},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3017945913","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5283089","display_name":"Emotional distress","level":3,"score":0.2996000051498413},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3019613579","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162297","display_name":"Personal hygiene","level":2,"score":0.2969000041484833},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779951463","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268788","display_name":"Quality of life (healthcare)","level":2,"score":0.2928999960422516},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780596822","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q623289","display_name":"Dysphagia","level":2,"score":0.2915000021457672},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3020031316","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6817452","display_name":"Psychological distress","level":3,"score":0.28529998660087585},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C16005928","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q171171","display_name":"Dermatology","level":1,"score":0.2784000039100647},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777789703","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192102","display_name":"Skin cancer","level":3,"score":0.2754000127315521},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C201645570","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q830637","display_name":"Radiation treatment planning","level":3,"score":0.27410000562667847},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C61434518","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q932510","display_name":"General surgery","level":1,"score":0.2712000012397766},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2777546739","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q33525","display_name":"Carcinoma","level":2,"score":0.25690001249313354},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C106399304","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q868123","display_name":"Snowball sampling","level":2,"score":0.2563000023365021},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780564577","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q179945","display_name":"Psoriasis","level":2,"score":0.251800000667572},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C126838900","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q77604","display_name":"Radiology","level":1,"score":0.2500999867916107}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","pdf_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2597052008","display_name":"Frontiers in Medicine","issn_l":"2296-858X","issn":["2296-858X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","norway-1","poland-70","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320527","host_organization_name":"Frontiers Media","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320527"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Frontiers Media"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Medicine","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","doi":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853","pdf_url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1957853/pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2597052008","display_name":"Frontiers in Medicine","issn_l":"2296-858X","issn":["2296-858X"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","doaj","norway-1","poland-70","russia-white-list-1","vabb-shw"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320527","host_organization_name":"Frontiers Media","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320527"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Frontiers Media"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Frontiers in Medicine","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7225246289.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7225246289.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":31,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1487982484","https://openalex.org/W1990043288","https://openalex.org/W1999075599","https://openalex.org/W2001333968","https://openalex.org/W2034092421","https://openalex.org/W2042506773","https://openalex.org/W2061213569","https://openalex.org/W2098802000","https://openalex.org/W2138664283","https://openalex.org/W2141565441","https://openalex.org/W2305278139","https://openalex.org/W2310119800","https://openalex.org/W2415725664","https://openalex.org/W2804656964","https://openalex.org/W2921373673","https://openalex.org/W2945406930","https://openalex.org/W2993030096","https://openalex.org/W3026761766","https://openalex.org/W3031266125","https://openalex.org/W3036655009","https://openalex.org/W3196619312","https://openalex.org/W3214864532","https://openalex.org/W4211017340","https://openalex.org/W4220908321","https://openalex.org/W4283691055","https://openalex.org/W4308185837","https://openalex.org/W4362553833","https://openalex.org/W4362671330","https://openalex.org/W4365448774","https://openalex.org/W4414311079","https://openalex.org/W4416998941"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Background":[0],"Radiation":[1],"dermatitis":[2,55,241],"is":[3,57,216],"a":[4,74,198,221,278],"common":[5],"and":[6,46,91,111,128,138,177,189,192,253,271,287,299],"distressing":[7],"complication":[8],"of":[9,18,231],"radiotherapy":[10,33,72,157],"for":[11,302],"nasopharyngeal":[12],"carcinoma":[13],"(NPC),":[14],"affecting":[15],"over":[16],"90%":[17],"patients.":[19],"Its":[20],"clinical":[21,303],"management":[22,56,242],"has":[23],"been":[24],"widely":[25],"studied,":[26],"but":[27],"patients'":[28],"evolving":[29],"needs":[30,252],"across":[31,121,212],"the":[32,43,159,232],"trajectory":[34],"remain":[35],"poorly":[36],"understood.":[37],"Patient":[38],"journey":[39,103,235],"mapping":[40],"can":[41],"visualize":[42,108],"patient":[44,102,234,265],"experience":[45],"identify":[47],"care":[48,165,183,255,269,273],"gaps,":[49,256],"yet":[50],"its":[51],"use":[52],"in":[53,78,243,260],"radiation":[54,240],"limited.":[58],"Methods":[59],"A":[60,101],"descriptive":[61],"qualitative":[62],"study":[63,228],"used":[64],"semi-structured":[65],"interviews":[66],"with":[67,202],"25":[68],"NPC":[69,244],"patients":[70,132,245],"undergoing":[71,246],"at":[73,114,205],"tertiary":[75],"oncology":[76],"center":[77],"China.":[79],"Purposeful":[80],"sampling":[81,209],"covered":[82],"four":[83,122],"phases:":[84],"pre-radiotherapy":[85],"preparation,":[86],"early":[87,142,154],"radiotherapy,":[88,90,143],"peak":[89],"post-radiotherapy":[92],"recovery.":[93],"Data":[94],"were":[95],"analyzed":[96],"using":[97],"Colaizzi's":[98],"seven-step":[99],"method.":[100],"map":[104,196,276],"was":[105,158,210],"developed":[106],"to":[107,148,152,281,297],"tasks,":[109,126],"emotions,":[110,127],"pain":[112,129],"points":[113],"each":[115],"phase.":[116],"Results":[117],"Sixteen":[118],"themes":[119],"emerged":[120],"phases,":[123,213],"grouped":[124],"into":[125],"points.":[130],"Pre-radiotherapy":[131],"reported":[133],"anticipatory":[134],"anxiety,":[135],"information":[136],"asymmetry,":[137],"fragmented":[139],"preparation.":[140],"During":[141],"delayed":[144],"symptom":[145,168],"recognition":[146],"due":[147],"wishful":[149],"thinking":[150],"led":[151],"missed":[153,258],"intervention.":[155],"Peak":[156],"nadir,":[160],"marked":[161],"by":[162],"severe":[163],"wound":[164,268],"difficulties,":[166],"multidimensional":[167],"distress":[169,204],"(pain,":[170],"pruritus,":[171],"sleep":[172],"disturbance),":[173],"body":[174],"image":[175],"collapse,":[176],"social":[178],"withdrawal.":[179],"Recovery":[180],"involved":[181],"transitional":[182,272],"fragmentation,":[184],"uncertainty":[185],"about":[186],"skin":[187,262],"changes,":[188],"long-term":[190],"hyperpigmentation":[191],"scarring":[193],"concerns.":[194],"The":[195,275],"suggested":[197],"\u201crollercoaster\u201d":[199],"emotional":[200],"pattern,":[201],"greatest":[203],"weeks":[206],"4\u20136.":[207],"Because":[208],"cross-sectional":[211],"this":[214],"pattern":[215],"an":[217],"interpretive":[218],"synthesis,":[219],"not":[220],"demonstrated":[222],"individual":[223],"longitudinal":[224,293],"trajectory.":[225],"Conclusions":[226],"This":[227],"presents":[229],"one":[230],"first":[233],"maps":[236],"specifically":[237],"focused":[238],"on":[239],"radiotherapy.":[247],"It":[248],"reveals":[249],"dynamic,":[250],"phase-specific":[251],"critical":[254],"including":[257],"opportunities":[259],"proactive":[261],"assessment,":[263],"structured":[264],"education,":[266],"practical":[267],"training,":[270],"coordination.":[274],"offers":[277],"visual":[279],"tool":[280],"anticipate":[282],"needs,":[283],"optimize":[284],"intervention":[285],"timing,":[286],"design":[288],"whole-course":[289],"nursing":[290],"interventions.":[291],"Prospective":[292],"studies":[294],"are":[295],"needed":[296],"validate":[298],"refine":[300],"it":[301],"implementation.":[304]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-05T12:25:35.769452","created_date":"2026-11-05T00:00:00"}