Exploring Pathways to Optimise Care in malignant bowel obstruction
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving decision-making in malignant bowel obstruction: An exploration of context-specific treatment pathways and experiences to inform intervention development for person-centred care (The EPOC study)
IRAS ID
308809
Contact name
Alison Bravington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
About one in six people with cancer experience blockage of their intestines by a tumour (malignant bowel obstruction). This stops people eating and drinking, causing severe pain, nausea and vomiting. Making decisions about treatment can be difficult – there are no nationally agreed guidelines. Involving patients in decision-making can also be difficult where their symptoms are severe, or their cancer is very advanced and they are at the end of life. The aim of this project is to inform decision-making about treatments, examine how these decisions can be shared with patients and caregivers, and helps all involved choose the treatment that will maximise each individual's quality of life.
We will conduct in-depth interviews with patients, caregivers and clinicians to explore how treatment decisions are made and shared. We will also explore what patients, caregivers and clinicians feel about how decision-making happens, in their experience, what influences those decisions, and how this affects patient wellbeing.
This interview study is Phase 2 of a three-phase study, beginning with a review of previously published studies to see what is already known about decision-making and patient wellbeing in malignant bowel obstruction (Phase 1) and ending with i) the development of patient and caregiver information and ii) healthcare professional training, to help patient-centred decision making in malignant bowel obstruction (Phase 3). The information resources and professional training content will be jointly designed with healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers using the findings of this interview study.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0153
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion