Exploring how geography affects cancer patients' non-scheduled care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the influence of place of residence on cancer patients’ use of out-of-hours medical services in Northeast Scotland
IRAS ID
251185
Contact name
Peter Murchie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
This new project seeks information to help explain the paradoxical findings of the NASCAR study which was published in 2017. In NASCAR we found that people living in remote and rural areas were more likely to die in the first year after cancer diagnosis than those living closer by. This was despite earlier diagnosis and treatment. In this current project we aim to explore whether place of residence influences the use of out-of-hours medical services by people with cancer. Using the NHS Grampian Cancer Care Pathway database we will identify a cohort of people in Northeast Scotland diagnosed with any cancer in the preceding two-years. We will then examine the GMED Adastra out-of-hours medical record system to identify the number and nature of contacts to out-of-hours medical care by these individuals. Subsequent analysis will explore the potential impact of rural versus urban residence on the number, nature and outcome of out-of-hour contacts for Northeast people with cancer
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1613
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion