Patient and carer responses to symptoms during cancer treatment (001)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding how patients at risk of COMPlications of cancer and its treatment Appraise Symptoms and access urgent and emergency care Services: the COMPASS study
IRAS ID
342834
Contact name
John Defty
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
People with cancer frequently have to access urgent and emergency care services for complications of their disease or its treatment. Complications can be serious and are sometimes life-threatening. Little is known about how patients and their informal caregivers decide whether they need to use these services when they become unwell during cancer treatment. Few studies have explored how people with cancer choose between services and how accessing specialist services is influenced by the different ways in which they are set up. This study aims to address these gaps in our knowledge.
This study will be conducted at two hospitals in the south of England. It will involve two components. In the first component, participants will be asked to use a diary to record any symptoms they experience over a 6-week period. Afterwards, they will be interviewed to explore what they thought was causing these symptoms and what actions they took in response. In the second component, participants who have recently used an urgent or emergency care service will be invited to an interview. This interview will explore why they decided to seek help and how they experienced gaining access to these services.
Findings from the diaries and interviews will be used to develop a model that explains how patients and informal caregivers make decisions when they become unwell. The study will identify ways in which health professionals might better support them to plan and seek help for complications. It will also suggest how services might be changed to make it easier for patients and informal caregivers to access the right care from the right service at the right time. Findings will help to reduce the risk of harm to patients from delayed help-seeking and treatment for complications.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
24/WA/0245
Date of REC Opinion
4 Sep 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion