Skin Cancer Patients Experiences of Psychotherapy Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration into skin cancer patients’ experiences of the helpful factors within psychotherapy: A grounded theory study.
IRAS ID
319053
Contact name
Nicola Swales
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Mid and South Essex NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 2 months, 5 days
Research summary
My literature review has revealed a gap within research specific to a therapeutic model of working for individuals who have been diagnosed with skin cancer and access a form of psychological therapy.
This research aims to: explore the psychological impact of skin cancer and examine skin cancer patients’ experiences of the helpful factors of psychotherapy to build a theory from the data itself.
There are three stages to my research as follows:
1. Initial individual participant interviews (transcribe, code data, build a theory);
2. Hold one focus group from the initial participants – to member check the data gathered and emerging theory and feed this data back into the emerging theory;
3. Present the theory to a small group of suitability experienced/specialist psychotherapists to gain feedback on the theory and its potential use in the profession.
The target participant sample will be adults who have experienced a form of skin cancer that required surgical treatment and engaged with at least four sessions of psychotherapeutic therapy (counselling, psychotherapy, psychology as an individual) within the past 18-24 months.
Suitability to participate will be based upon not only the specific cancer being experienced, but the safety of undertaking research on what is a highly emotive area to research. Exclusions will be participants who are under the age of 18 years, experiencing acute mental health difficulties that requires them to engage in, or are already engaged in psychiatric treatment; clients who are clinically assessed as end of life.
Clear inclusion and exclusion criteria will be sent to interested participants and double checked prior to the commencement of the research.
The interviews and focus groups are likely to be either online or within a therapeutic space - either rented by the researcher or based within the grounds of Broomfield.
Time frame: 5-6 years (4.5 years remaining) approximately.REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0870
Date of REC Opinion
7 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion