Fatigue intervention co-design study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fatigue Intervention Co-design Study in Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer
IRAS ID
202256
Contact name
Anna Spathis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 28 days
Research summary
Fatigue, a severe tiredness that interferes with a person’s usual ability to function, is both the most common and most distressing symptom experienced by teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer. Despite this, there has been almost no research trying to find an effective treatment for this young patient group. Relief of fatigue would greatly improve young patients’ quality of life, and could have long-term health and economic benefits by helping return to education or work.
Research in older adults has suggested that the most promising approach involves education, activity promotion and energy conservation techniques. Most studies, however, involved patients with breast cancer, and there have been calls for further research in other patient groups. We are planning a series of studies to try to find an effective treatment for fatigue in TYA cancer patients. This first study involves working with young cancer patients to design together (‘co-design’) an intervention for fatigue that meets their needs and is acceptable to them. Future studies will evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
This small qualitative study will involve approximately ten patients who are within one year of completing cancer treatment, as well as a similar number of parents. Participants will be recruited from one centre, the Cambridge TYA cancer Principal Treatment Centre. The three phases will involve a) participants being interviewed individually and attending a focus group, b) patients receiving the prototype co-designed intervention, and c) participants being interviewed after the intervention to provide feedback to allow further refinement of the intervention. The intervention will be delivered by an Allied Health Professional in the setting that participants have chosen. It is likely to involve, at a minimum, education about fatigue and support with increasing activity. It will not include administration of any medication.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0575
Date of REC Opinion
26 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion