Spatial evaluation of patient interval factors in GOC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A case study of spatiality in advanced presentation gastroesophageal cancer.
IRAS ID
161434
Contact name
Amanda Jayne Lee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
REF ODR_2014_162, NCIN requet for data
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Gastroesophageal cancers (GOC) are the 8th most common malignancy in the world. Patients are often over 65, male and from lower socioeconomic groups, many present at very advanced stages with their cancer, resulting in poor survival rates. These circumstances provide a unique platform to evaluate if mapping patient and population characteristics can predict geographical areas of higher incidence. This information can be used to target populations and encourage earlier presentation.
This case study analyses a 10 year cohort of GOC patients, to reveal patterns in populations, behaviours and ecology which may be related to advanced presenting gastroesophageal cancers. Data are geographically analysed so results are displayed as maps for easy interpretation.
This research fully integrates the four pillars of geography, capturing the essence of person, place, space and time linked with the GOC cohort. This approach evaluates all elements of care, historical changes in treatments and means that geographical boundaries are not constrained to artificially produced large scale ‘groupings’ which frequent the public domain.
The findings of this research will map areas of increased density GOC which are not explained through population descriptors. Cluster analysis techniques will identify cancer ‘hot spots’ to inform targeted health promotion and intervention. Results which are displayed in a map format are more accessible to the audience. This also enables cross analysis of a wide range of information related to cancer.
Geographical analysis of data can be useful in prediction of disease incidence. Localised (smaller scale) analysis can capture many elements of care and has a potential to inform service providers about the populations most at risk. This research presents a case study of GOC within a geographically defined regional referral centre. It applies geography to health and population profiling, in order to produce an in depth analysis of how people present with GOC.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0318
Date of REC Opinion
2 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion