QUIET v1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
QUalitative exploration of patients’ experiences with Intrabeam Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) and External-Beam Radiotherapy Treatment.
IRAS ID
320976
Contact name
Sandeep Bagga
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
MediPaCe
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
The standard radiotherapy treatment for early breast cancer is for the patient to undergo external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after the surgery that was performed to remove the cancer. This requires patients to attend at least five radiotherapy sessions during the week(s) after surgery. Intrabeam Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) is an alternative that allows surgeons to deliver a single dose of radiotherapy directly to the breast tissue during surgery removing the need for further radiotherapy sessions.
To date, only quantitative research has been conducted to investigate early-stage breast cancer patients’ experiences with Intrabeam IORT. These studies gathered scores via questionnaires and found that patients receiving Intrabeam IORT report e.g. better emotional wellbeing, reported less pain, fewer breast and arm symptoms compared to patients receiving EBRT.
However, without the corresponding depth in qualitative research it is difficult for researchers and practitioners to have the level of understanding and insight into patient perceptions that helps them explain with confidence ‘why’ such differences may have been found. This study is designed to address this qualitative research gap. The study has 2 sub-groups to ensure that qualitative insight can be gathered for Intrabeam IORT, whilst also providing the within-study comparison with similar data for EBRT that will allow future researchers to link the understanding gained here with previous IORT and EBRT research for maximal understanding of similarities/differences and advancement of the field
A patient-led Working Group was established to refine the study design, aims and delivery approaches. Semi-structured interviews lasting 60 minutes will be conducting with 30 patients and care partners who have direct experience with either Intrabeam IORT or EBRT (15 participants in each group). Participants will be identified from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. A member of the research team will then undertake the informed consent process and delivery research activities.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
22/NI/0163
Date of REC Opinion
1 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion