Quality of Life After Bladder Cancer (Q-ABC): qualitative interviews
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quality of Life After Bladder Cancer - a qualitative interview study (Q-ABC-QIS)
IRAS ID
208472
Contact name
Sally Appleyard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 26 days
Research summary
Bladder cancer which involves the muscle wall is treated with either surgery or radiotherapy (often combined with chemotherapy). Surgery requires removal of the bladder leaving a stoma (for drainage of urine) or bladder reconstruction using a loop of bowel. Radiotherapy involves daily treatment with high energy X-rays typically over 6.5 weeks. Historically, surgery has been considered to be the most effective treatment although current evidence suggests that survival rates following radiotherapy are similar. Both treatments have potential side effects and complications potentially requiring hospital and community treatment. What is less well understood is the impact that their illness and treatment has on patients’ quality of life. If both treatments are equally effective at curing the cancer then the differences in long term quality of life becomes vital in helping patients and the healthcare team select the most suitable treatment.
This study will explore the “lived experience” of patients and carers who have undergone, or supported someone through, treatment for bladder cancer. We will use in depth interviews to explore quality of life and the impact of both cancer and treatment. We will also ask patients and carers to reflect on their decision making between surgery and radiotherapy, including the factors that they weighed up and the extent to which they felt they were involved in the decision making process. We aim to allow time and space to uncover ideas and concerns that might not be predicted by health care professionals.
The study design has involved bladder cancer patient support groups. The results of the study will be used to complement a larger scale questionnaire- based study of quality of life in over 300 patients across the UK. The exploration of decision making will inform development of a future trial assessing the impact of a variety of factors on treatment choice.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1638
Date of REC Opinion
28 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion