COMPANION
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COMPlementary and AlterNative therapies In ONcology (COMPANION)
IRAS ID
333338
Contact name
Brogan Johnston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are treatments not prescribed by the healthcare team. They include things like over-the-counter tablets or movement-based therapies like yoga. Patients with cancer may trust CAM for easing symptoms, improving wellbeing or even helping cancer outcomes. Yet, most forms of CAM do not have research to back up claims of benefit. Consequently, patients may spend time and money on therapies that are not beneficial, or which could even be harmful to their health. The lack of research also stops healthcare providers from recommending valuable forms of CAM. Since patients may not feel comfortable discussing CAM with their healthcare team, its use is probably quite underestimated.
The study will use questionnaires to find out: a) how many patients use CAM, b) what types of CAM they use and why, c) the benefits and problems they have with CAM, and d) what might stop them from discussing this with their team. The aim is to recruit 500 patients with any form of cancer, at any stage, from outpatient clinics Clatterbridge Cancer Centre sites. The study will use a bespoke questionnaire designed to capture CAM-use and attitudes towards CAM in the context of cancer. It will also use widely validated questionnaires to assess quality of life. Healthcare professionals will also complete a questionnaire to gauge perceptions around CAM-use.
Another important, but voluntary, part of COMPANION is sample collection. Patients recruited to the questionnaire arm will be offered the option of participating in the collection of blood and urine samples. These will be stored at Clatterbridge, with the intent of use for future studies. We will store all samples anonymously. They cannot be tracked to a patient. This allows scientific research on any forms of CAM that, based on the questionnaires, patients feel may affect cancer or treatment.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0309
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion