Factors affecting wellbeing among thyroid cancer patients.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Factors affecting subjective wellbeing among patients diagnosed with well-differentiated and medullary thyroid cancer.
IRAS ID
257474
Contact name
Alicja Yilmaz
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
9055, NHS R&D
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
What are the factors affecting wellbeing among patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer? A phenomenological study exploring wellbeing of patients with different thyroid cancers and different treatment pathways. Thyroid cancer is a rare form of cancer but its prevalence is increasing. Most patients with Thyroid cancer have an excellent prognosis and survival rate is close to 90%. However, the quality of life of patients is significantly decreased and is comparable to other, more malignant cancers. Thus, this study will try to explore and help to understand why the quality of life and in effect, wellbeing is significantly affected by the diagnosis. Thyroid cancer is most prevalent is adults between 35 and 55 years old.
Eligible patients in optimal situations would be within 4 weeks of initial diagnosis of Papillary, Follicular or Medullary Thyroid Cancer. In-depth interviews will be conducted with participants in 3 points in time; first within 4 (maximum 8) weeks of diagnosis, second after completing treatment (2-8 months from diagnosis) and third interview 6-12 months after the diagnosis. Willing participants will also be asked to complete a paper or video journal during the duration of their treatment or until the final interview. The study will last for up to 18 months. The study findings may improve understanding of living with this condition and in turn may help charities and NHS staff in providing the best possible care for patients in order to improve their wellbeing. This study can also provide directions to other research studies, for example, creating an intervention. The recruitment will take place in hosting NHS trust. It is partially funded and supported by the Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust a registered patient-support charity.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0175
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion