Resource factors and outcomes in the National Lung Cancer Audit
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of organisational, patient and resource factors in determining outcomes in lung cancer in England/Wales- an analysis of cancer registry and linked clinical datasets.
IRAS ID
237237
Contact name
Ian Woolhouse
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 10 days
Research summary
The prognosis for people for lung cancer in the UK is poor and more than half of all people who develop lung cancer die within a year of receiving their diagnosis. Studies show that outcomes for lung cancer are clearly worse in the UK when compared to the rest of Europe. Within the UK, data from the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA) show a wide variation in treatment and outcomes between individual lung units, which cannot be entirely explained by variations in the type or severity of cancer cases. Though reasons for this are complex and multifactorial, one plausible hypothesis (suggested by preliminary analysis) is this variability in outcomes relates to differences in the resources, treatment and the specific organisation of lung cancer services at a local level. However, the specific factors that underlie the relationship between lung cancer management practice and disease outcomes are not known.
Our research aims to define factors linking lung cancer management to outcomes. Defining these factors both locally and nationally will be critical in guiding policy and recommendations about the minimum resources required for a hospital to deliver a safe and effective lung cancer service.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NE/0147
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion