Developing new care pathways for women at low risk of breast cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing new care pathways for women at low risk of breast cancer
IRAS ID
253147
Contact name
David French
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 2 days
Research summary
In 2013 the National Institute of Care Excellence (NICE) indicated that women at high/moderate risk of breast cancer should receive the option to take chemoprevention medication, and for high risk women more frequent screening. However, in the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) these guidelines are not currently being implemented as women are not informed of their risk.
Providing women with their breast cancer risk is currently being piloted in 5 screening sites across the North West of England (known as BC-Predict). The primary focus of BC-Predict is to identify high-risk women, so that NICE guidelines can be implemented.
It is likely that a sizeable portion of women at high risk will opt for extra screening. It has been suggested that for high-risk women to benefit from more frequent screening, compensations will need to be made elsewhere.
In this study we aim to assess whether it is safe, feasible and acceptable to reduce the frequency at which low-risk women attend for screening. Before recommending this to low-risk women it is of paramount importance to optimise care pathways and design/refine communication materials.
These objectives will be achieved in following phases:
•Phase 1 - (i) Interviews with Prominent professionals with a significant profile in the NHSBSP (i.e. Head of National Screening Committee), and (ii) focus groups with healthcare professionals from across the screening programme.
•Phase 2 - Interviews with, (i) low risk women identified in BC-Predict, and (ii) women approaching screening age (46-52).
•Phase 3 - ‘Think aloud’ interviews with, (i) low risk women identified in BC-Predict, and (ii) women from the NHSBSP.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0260
Date of REC Opinion
21 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion