PLANET study: Planning for End of Treatment V1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  PLANET study: Planning for End of Treatment – sharing information to prepare children, young people and families to move into survivorship care when active treatment finishes

• IRAS ID

  345685

• Contact name

  Susie Aldiss

• Contact email

  s.aldiss@surrey.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Surrey

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 6 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  This study focuses on the information children, young people and families are given at the end of active treatment for cancer. The end of treatment for childhood cancer can be a time of celebration for families, but it can also be a time of worry and uncertainty. Families must be given the right care, information, and support which meets their needs as they move into survivorship care. International research has shown that there are gaps in the information children and families get at the end of treatment.

  We aim to find out:
  • What – what types of information are shared and in what format? What are the gaps?
  • When – when are families given this information?
  • Who – who is giving the information, and who is involved in the conversations?

  This study will involve families with a child (aged 0-18) who has finished treatment in the past six months in any of the Principal Treatment Centres across the UK. A questionnaire has been developed to look at the information needs of children and families at the end of treatment. We will invite parents/carers, children and young people to fill out these questionnaires online. Questionnaires are available for children aged eight and above. Question topics include information sharing about: treatment and side effects/long-term effects, the plan for follow-up, and health lifestyle education. Families can also choose to take part in an interview to share more in-depth information about their experiences. We will interview professionals who work with families at the end of treatment. In these interviews, we will ask about what information is given to families, how it is given, what resources are used and how much the child is involved in these conversations.

  This study is funded by The Children & Young People's Cancer Association (CCLG). The study lasts 18 months.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/WM/0124

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Sep 2025

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion