SURECAN Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SUrvivors' Rehabilitation Evaluation after CANcer trial: A multi-centre, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial of comparing enhanced Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (plus) added to usual aftercare, versus usual aftercare only
IRAS ID
260823
Contact name
Stephanie Taylor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN67900293
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 30 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 it did not address important issues highlighted by patients. We therefore are in need of better aftercare for “cancer survivors”.
Since the best approaches are only moderately effective, we decided to adopt Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as 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 quality of life. 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). We know that exercise is helpful and return to work/vocational activity is important to many patients, therefore will integrate ACT with options for physical activity and work support, if these are deemed important by the patient (thus: ACT+ or enhanced ACT).
This study will consist of a pilot RCT with the aim to recruit and retain, with follow-up data, sufficient number of patients for a clinical trial. Depending on meeting progression criteria, the pilot RCT will seamlessly progress into a definitive RCT comparing ACT+ and usual aftercare, with usual aftercare only, answering if ACT+ with usual aftercare is more effective and cost-effective in improving the QoL of participants living with and beyond cancer than usual aftercare only.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0214
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion