Cancer and Serious Mental Illness: A Qualitative Exploration
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cancer and Serious Mental Illness: A Qualitative Exploration
IRAS ID
147805
Contact name
Karen Galway
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Title: Cancer and Serious Mental Illness: A Qualitative Exploration
Background: Serious mental illness (SMI), defined by this study as schizophrenia, other psychosis, and major affective disorders, is associated with poor physical health and excess mortality. In the case of cancer, this increased mortality has been attributed to factors such as stigma, failure to be given or to comply with interventions, and disconnection between services. However, there is no published research to date exploring patients’ and caregivers’ views and experiences.
Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the experience of SMI and cancer from the perspective of patients, their significant others and health professionals involved in their care.
Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews will be carried out with the following groups:
• Key patients (KPs): adults living with SMI, diagnosed with cancer in the past five years
• Significant others (SOs): adult family members or friends, perceived by a KP as providing informal support and/or care. Bereaved SOs will also be interviewed, recruited via a voluntary sector organization.
• Healthcare professionals (HCPs): professionals employed by the NHS (to provide cancer-related or psychiatric and psychosocial care and support) or voluntary sector mental health services (to provide psychosocial support).
The researcher will seek to recruit approximately 12 participants from each group (approximately 36 interviews). Key patients and significant others will be interviewed prior to HCPs, as their responses will inform the interview questions for HCPs.The information gathered through interviewing those with direct and personal experience of SMI and cancer will be analysed and widely presented to key stakeholders, with a view to developing service enhancements that may help to identify any additional support needs and examples of good practice that may inform future care delivery.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
14/NI/1134
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion