Experiences of Cancer Immunotherapy (ExCIm)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors: insights from people affected by cancer and healthcare professionals in South Wales.
IRAS ID
259873
Contact name
Tessa Watts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
In this research, we plan to interview people being treated with cancer immunotherapy, and their healthcare professionals: registered nurses, doctors, and pharmacists, to find out more about treatment decision-making, treatment and supportive care experience and the education and training needs.
There are several different types of immunotherapy drugs including a group known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. In clinical trials these drugs have shown important and promising results for some people affected by certain cancers, including, for example, types of lung, kidney and skin cancers. Our study is important because use of these drugs will expand as research continues and approval for their use within the NHS grows.
There is little research into how people experience immunotherapy treatment and their supportive care in the context of their everyday lives. We have insufficient knowledge about immunotherapy treatment decision-making; what people expect of treatment, what worries they have about treatment, what information people want and need and how they want it; what support they need and how can their needs be best met. Our knowledge about the experiences and education needs of the healthcare professionals providing care and support for people receiving immunotherapies is also limited.
We want to produce research which will begin to provide a better and detailed understanding of what it is like to be treated with immunotherapy for cancer. To do this, we will interview adults living with cancer in South Wales and being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and their healthcare professionals. We will share our findings in different ways, including through social media, with the public, healthcare professionals and policy makers.
People affected by cancer who have had immunotherapy have inspired this study. While the research is conducted in South Wales, the findings will be transferable and benefits for people affected by cancer more widely felt.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0299
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion