2W-VOTRI Version 1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Does short segment voice recording enhance patient triage of suspected head and neck cancer two week wait referrals?

• IRAS ID

  306431

• Contact name

  Katharine Davies

• Contact email

  katharine.davies@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  0746, 0746

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  There is an increase in referrals from Primary care to Secondary care for suspected head and neck cancer. Hospitals have a contractual obligation to see such referrals within 2 weeks and typically these patients are seen in a 2 Week Wait Head and Neck Cancer clinic (2WW clinic). The increase in referrals creates significant strain in the healthcare ecosystem. Despite the increase in referrals to the 2WW clinics, the pick-up rate of cancer in these clinics remains low and in Merseyside it is 7.2%. This means that most of the patients seen in these clinics do not have cancer.
  One of the symptoms mandating referral to a 2WW clinic is ‘Aged 45 and over with Persistent unexplained hoarseness’. Disorders of the voice box (larynx) disrupt the voice in a recognizable manner specific to the cause. Experienced clinicians recognize these patterns, especially when taken in conjunction with the patient’s demographics.
  Our study aims to determine whether a combination of patients’ voice recordings, symptoms and demographics can help clinicians triage patients into high and low risk groups.
  To test this, we will recruit consenting patients referred to the 2WW clinic with a hoarse voice as the primary symptom. We will record their voice while they count to 20 after taking a deep breath and we will also ask them to cough.
  Their voice recordings, symptoms and demographics will be stored on a secure hospital computer. We will collect data from 20 patients with cancer and 80 with benign voice problems. ENT surgeons who are blinded to the patients will ask a team of ENT surgeons will be asked to assign patients into a high or low risk group and to diagnose the voice problem. If successful, this will help to create capacity in the 2WW clinic system.
  

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/NW/0320

• Date of REC Opinion

  13 Jan 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion