Head and Neck Cancer Journeys in M&C: a Comparative Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
From Clinic to Community: Contextualising Head and Neck Cancer Inequalities in Merseyside and Cheshire
IRAS ID
335009
Contact name
Terence M Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cancer disproportionately affects people from lower socioeconomic groups and is a critical concern for the Merseyside and Cheshire (M&C) region. Head and Neck Cancer (HANC) is an important concern. It is one of the fastest growing cancer groups in the North West of England with incidence rates in Merseyside 21-32% above the national average. Not only is HANC a problem for comparatively more deprived communities, but it is a particular problem for men. In the region the condition is characterised by delays in timely diagnosis, affecting opportunities for appropriate treatment, leading to poor treatment outcomes and unnecessary death.
We know that inequalities in HANC are shaped by interacting social, political, cultural and environmental factors. However, these are poorly understood and under-researched. Existing approaches, which tend to favour surveys and statistical approaches have been criticised as limited in their reach and for failing to fully understand the social context that HANC is emerging in, nor can they understand the fine-grained differences between social groups that shape cancer outcomes in socially diverse regions.Our proposed research is designed to make up for these limitations. We will take an in-depth, contextual approach to study how inequalities in cancer reflect the places people live, the structural conditions they live under (e.g., employment, housing, family life etc.) as well as participants’ perceptions and understandings of health, sickness, and treatment. To fully understand how social inequalities shape HANC, we will compare two contrasting sites in M&C with respect to cancer incidence and treatment outcomes: Bootle and selected sites along western Wirral. We will use this information to understand how best to target inequalities in HANC, design appropriate interventions in collaboration with patients, families, clinicians and wider societal stakeholders.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0017
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion