Assessment of Quality of Life Tools in Medullary Thyroid Cancer (QaLM)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of Quality of Life Tools in Medullary Thyroid Cancer (QaLM)
IRAS ID
135388
Contact name
Laura Moss
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Velindre NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is rare and can occur sporadically or in an inherited form associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia MEN) disorders. As well as being a subtype of thyroid cancer it is also a member of the neuroendocrine tumours. It comprises 4% of all thyroid cancers which is approximately 109 new cases per year in the UK. To date, research on quality of life issues has not focused on MTC and as it is treated differently and can be associated with other inherited conditions the optimal method to assess this patient cohort's specific problems is unknown. The aim of the study is to determine which Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) instruments patients with sporadic and inherited MTC and early and advanced stage MTC patients find most helpful in facilitating communication of their health problems to their clinicians. The study will attempt to ascertain if this patient cohort's symptoms and quality of life is better assessed by a thyroid cancer specific questionnaire, a general symptom questionnaire or a neuroendocrine tumour specific questionnaire.
The study will also ascertain clinician's views on the quality of life tools in terms of their ability to highlight problems not otherwise ascertained by a standard clinical review appointment along with the relationship between quality of life tool score, performance status and clinical significance.
Patients 16 years and older at any point in their cancer journey will be eligible. The study will be conducted across the UK in specialist cancer clinics. Recruitment is expected to take 12 months. Patients will be asked to complete 4 quality of life questionnaires in randomised order and to rank them.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0222
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion