“Life after treatment”: what physicians consider important for oral cancer survivors’ quality of life

Introduction: Oral cancer remains a major public health concern in India, particularly in Maharashtra, where tobacco and areca-nut use, delayed diagnosis, and socioeconomic constraints contribute to high morbidity and poor survivorship outcomes. Post-treatment challenges—including impairments in mastication, swallowing, speech, appearance, emotional wellbeing, and financial stability—profoundly shape survivors’ quality of life (QOL). Physicians’ perspectives are central to survivorship planning, yet remain understudied in low-resource, high-burden settings. Methods: This qualitative study explored treating physicians’ perceptions of postoperative QOL among oral cancer survivors in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve physicians across surgical, medical, dental, and psychosocial specialties. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the Framework Method with combined inductive–deductive coding. Results: Five major themes were identified: (1) physicians’ conceptualizations of QOL; (2) key affected domains, including physical, emotional, social, and financial dimensions; (3) perceived patient needs, such as health education, financial assistance, and family support; (4) barriers to optimal QOL, including clinical sequelae, psychological insecurity, prosthetic challenges, and limited follow-up; and (5) strategies to enhance QOL, including structured health education, coping and psychological support, dietetic guidance, reconstructive rehabilitation, and regular follow-ups. Physicians viewed QOL as a multidimensional construct influenced by functional recovery, psychosocial resilience, and socioeconomic context. Discussion: Findings highlight the need for integrated survivorship pathways that prioritize multidisciplinary rehabilitation, psychological care, financial navigation, and patient-centered education. Strengthening survivorship infrastructure in resource-constrained settings may substantially improve long-term QOL for oral cancer survivors in India.