Non-English-speaking cancer patients' experiences of palliative care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do non-English speaking cancer patients experience palliative care?
IRAS ID
147758
Contact name
Amanda Williams
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2014/02/60, Data protection; 14/0304, R & D
Research summary
This study of non-English speaking cancer patients’ experiences of palliative care, addresses (1) patients’ experiences of care for their pain, including assessment of pain and of analgesia, opportunities to discuss pain, and the extent to which they feel understood by the palliative care team; and (2) patients’ experiences of care for psychological distress (e.g. depression), and the extent to which they feel the palliative care team provides them with emotional support.
Pain and clinical depression are common in palliative care patients. However, these symptoms are often under-reported by patients so may go unrecognised and consequently undertreated by palliative care services. If a patient does not speak English, this further complicates the process of communicating their experiences of pain and psychological distress to healthcare professionals. Therefore, non-English-speaking cancer patients may be at a higher risk of untreated pain and psychological distress.
This study will be conducted in partnership with the Camden, Islington ELiPSe and UCLH & HCA Palliative Care Service. The team work solely with adults. Participants will be 15 non-English speaking cancer patients under the care of the palliative care team. The primary outcome will be the quality of patients’ experiences of care for their pain and psychological distress, assessed by qualitative (thematic) analysis of interview responses. The interview will be conducted by a trainee clinical psychologist, with an interpreter to facilitate communication between patient and trainee. The secondary outcome will examine patients’ existing pain and psychological distress assessed using translated versions of standard self-report methods. The instructions for these measures will be provided via an interpreter, if a translated version is not available in the participant's preferred language.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/1022
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion