Adherence Patterns of GnRH Agonists in Prostate Cancer (version 1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adherence Patterns of GnRH Agonists in Prostate Cancer
IRAS ID
251396
Contact name
Mieke Van Hemelrijck
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 10 days
Research summary
Background and Aim
This research was developed with a view to understand the patterns of adherence to Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists injections in men with prostate cancer. Adherence or compliance means the resolve a patient requires to follow their course of therapy. Non-adherence to GnRH agonists has been a concern early on with patients on long-term GnRH agonists. GnRH agonists were first developed as 3-monthly depots, however 6-monthly depots were developed soon after in order to increase patient compliance and decrease the number of physician visits required for the injections. This qualitative study will investigate the reasons contributing to loss of adherence to GnRH agonists among men with prostate cancer as it may be associated with worse prognosis.Study Population
Men with prostate cancer who have been on GnRH agonists for at least six months from the Oncology department at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust will be invited for a 1:1 interview with the researcher. Clinicians treating the patient group will be invited to a focus group.Methods
Eligible men will be given the study participant information sheet and invited to a 1:1 interview with Student 1 by their clinician. Once consented, study participants will then be interviewed by Student 1 for approximately 45 minutes in the hospital. The interview will be audio recorded. Once the participant has been interviewed, the data will be stored on a password-protected NHS computer and transcribed anonymously. Once data has been transcribed, the participant's involvement in the study will cease.Analysis
Data collected will be analysed thematically using thematic analysis which involves identifying and creating similar categories and themes from focus groups' and interview transcripts.Expected Results
This study will enable clinicians to understand the barriers and challenges to adhering to GnRH agonists so as to better target care pathways to improve adherence.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EM/0370
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion