Patients experiences’ of genomic testing for early stage breast cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients experiences of genomic testing for early stage breast cancer recurrence risk: a qualitative study.
IRAS ID
196629
Contact name
Kinta Beaver
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
The incidence of breast cancer has more than doubled over the last twenty five years (Cancer Reform Strategy, 2010). A breast cancer diagnosis requires important decision making and effective communication from health care professionals. Breast Care Nurses play an important role in delivering information and individualising care throughout this process. Recent development in gene expression profiling tests, such as the Oncotype DX (ODX), has made a considerable impact on how we manage breast cancer treatment. The introduction of this test within the NHS has helped to identify the probable effects of treatment and how a disease may develop in an individual case (Oxford Biodynamics, 2015). The ODX test is specific to each patient’s genetic profile and helps to guide treatment decision by quantifying the risk of distant recurrence within 10 years. This results in adjuvant (supportive) chemotherapy being targeted more appropriately to those patients’ who have a higher risk of disease recurrence. When the evidence base was examined there was little research which explored patients’ experience through this process. The study would be aimed at those patients’ who received an intermediate or high recurrence score which necessitated a discussion about chemotherapy. An investigation which explores the patients’ perspective will add an alternative dimension and a valuable experiential insight into the process of genomic testing. It will produce important information to improve future clinical practice and improve insight into the psychological response of patients’ under-going targeted testing for breast cancer. In-depth semi-structured face to face interviews will be conducted by the Investigator. The number of interviews will be guided by emergent findings and a point at which no new information emerges. It is anticipated that approximately twelve interviews will be conducted, although practical limitations to the study time period may limit the number of interviews performed. It will involve one site.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0190
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion