SURECAN Development and Pre-pilot Studies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SUrvivors' Rehabilitation Evaluation after CANcer (SURECAN): Development and Pre-pilot Qualitative Studies
IRAS ID
247223
Contact name
Stephanie Taylor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Some two million people in the UK are living with or beyond cancer -“cancer survivors”. About a third of these patients report poor quality of life (QoL), or well-being, due to problems such as fatigue, fear of cancer recurrence, and concerns about returning to work.
From talking to patients we have found that important aspects of QoL include physical abilities and psychological well-being. We surveyed cancer services to see what aftercare is provided and found most provide two sessions, given by healthcare professionals (HCPs), which don’t address important issues highlighted by patients. We therefore are in need of better aftercare for “cancer survivors”.
As the best approaches are only moderately effective, we decided to adopt Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), since we thought this would provide better aftercare. ACT puts patients’ views about what they value most in their lives at the heart of the therapy, in order to improve their QoL. ACT helps patients to accept what they cannot change (e.g. the cancer might recur) and commit themselves to goals they are able and want to achieve, based on their own values (e.g. becoming closer to loved ones). Since we know that exercise is helpful and paid or voluntary work is important to many patients, we will integrate ACT with options for physical activity and work support, if these are deemed important by the patient (thus: ACT+).In this study, we will develop and improve the content and delivery of ACT+ intervention with both therapists and patients. This work is part of a bigger study that will eventually determine whether ACT+ improves QoL more than usual aftercare through a future definitive trial and health economic evaluation.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0196
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion