BRIDGE Study: Nurse-Led Survivorship for GI & HNC (v1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BRIDGE: A Multi-Phase Mixed-Methods Co-Design Study to Develop a Nurse-Led, Function-Focused Survivorship Pathway for Gastrointestinal and Head & Neck Cancer Survivors
IRAS ID
356243
Contact name
Patrick Kierkegaard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, 6 days
Research summary
BRIDGE is a research study aiming to improve nurse-led follow-up care for people who have had gastrointestinal (GI) or head & neck cancer (HNC). Many survivors face long-term challenges such as difficulty swallowing, stoma care issues, nutritional concerns, and emotional distress. By speaking with both survivors and healthcare professionals, we want to find practical ways to address these needs.
We will invite ~20–30 survivors who are at least six months post-treatment for GI or HNC, along with 10–15 healthcare staff (e.g., nurses, dietitians, oncologists, managers). Participants will take part in one-to-one interviews (about 45–60 minutes, either online or by phone) to share their experiences and suggestions. Some may also choose to join an optional group workshop (1.5–2 hours) to co-design solutions together, such as improving stoma support sessions or nutritional advice clinics. Additionally, there may be brief online surveys to gather extra feedback on proposed ideas.
No medical tests or new treatments are involved—this is purely discussion-based. We will record interviews and workshops (with consent) and then type them up, removing any personal details. All data will be stored securely at Imperial College London. We plan to publish our findings in scientific journals and share them with healthcare teams and charities that support GI/HNC patients. This study is funded by the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Convergence Science Centre.
Ultimately, BRIDGE will help shape more personalized, function-focused follow-up programs, reducing the day-to-day burdens survivors face and improving their quality of life after cancer treatment.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0132
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion