Patient experience of low grade glioma and awake craniotomy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Bridging the gap between pre and post-surgery: Patient experience of low grade glioma and awake craniotomy
IRAS ID
173941
Contact name
Charlene L Thwaites
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Awake craniotomy is now the recommended procedure for the removal of brain tumour. It is novel in the way the patient is required to be awake for several hours during the surgery. This is naturally a very sensitive procedure and can be difficult for the patient to approach, experience and process. This research study is designed to further understand the patient experience of undergoing awake craniotomy, as well as their experiences from diagnosis to the recovery phase.
Currently no research in this area specifically monitors patient experience during the surgery, with all papers to date relying on patient memories post surgery. Research indicates that general anaesthesia affects memory, and therefore post surgery recollections may not provide a complete understanding of the patient experience.
It has been shown that being provided with information about the procedure and what to expect helps the patient feel more prepared about what will happen, which can alleviate psychological difficulties. By gaining a greater understanding of the experience, this knowledge could support future awake craniotomy patients to become better prepared, and neurosurgery teams to adapt services to better tailor to the needs of the patient. Equally this research will likely highlight many areas of importance to patients and services which are currently being executed well and which should be highlighted as aspects of good practice.
The research design is qualitative so it will involve interviewing each patient at three points in time; before the surgery, during the surgery and after the surgery. The data is analysed by studying the use of language, themes in the content and meaning behind their descriptions. This is with the aim of acquiring a ‘fundamental structure’ which could be understood as a set of core meanings which underlie the important experiences shared by the patients involved in the study.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0019
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion