SHAPED
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Service development of a Healthy behAviours ProgrammE for chilDren and young people post cancer treatment
IRAS ID
362486
Contact name
Liam Humphreys
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Hallam University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 15 days
Research summary
Each year in the UK, approximately 1,900 children (aged 0–14) and 2,300 young people (aged 15–24) are diagnosed with cancer (CRUK, 2025). Advances in treatment have led to significant increases in survival, with rates more than doubling since the 1970s. However, childhood cancer survivors remain at risk of long-term adverse health outcomes due to the late effects of treatment (Erdmann et al., 2021).
Survivors are advised to maintain a healthy body weight, engage in regular physical activity, and follow a balanced diet (Children’s Oncology Group, 2018). Despite these recommendations, there is limited support available to help children and young people (CYP) adopt and maintain these behaviours. Furthermore, little is known about how, when, and in what format this support should be delivered.
SHAPED will explore the views and lived experiences of different stakeholders involved in supporting CYP post-cancer treatment, and co-design a support programme for CYP.
The project will involve five work packages (WPs):
WP1: A scoping review of current support programmes for CYP
WP2: Surveys and interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs) to understand their views of current support
WP3: Exploration of CYP and their family’s preferences for support and lived experiences of engaging with health behaviours post cancer treatment through three methods:
1. ‘Ideas Kit’ containing creative materials to help CYP express their experiences
2. Interviews to discuss their experiences and preferences for support .
3. Parents/carer survey about the support they received
WP4: Interviews with community stakeholders who provide support for CYP after cancer treatment
WP5: Using findings from WPs 1-4 to co-design a support programme for CYP with a range of stakeholders.
This application will focus on WP3 and WP5, the work with CYP. All other WPs have or will receive ethics approval from Sheffield Hallam University Research Ethics Committee before commencing.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0256
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion