The lived experience of malignant melanoma

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The lived experience of malignant melanoma: diagnosis, treatment and beyond

  • IRAS ID

    126120

  • Contact name

    Helen Mortimer

  • Contact email

    mortimeh@uni.coventry.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Coventry University

  • Research summary

    This research study aims to explore the experiences of people who have received a diagnosis of and treatment for malignant melanoma. It will aim to gain a participant perspective of their experience of diagnosis, treatment and beyond and the sense that they have made of their experiences.
    Emotional and psychological sequalae to a diagnosis and treatment of malignant melanoma have been found prevalent in the research. This research uses the method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of people with malignant melanoma. Currently there exists an identified gap in the literature for research of this nature and specificity.
    Up to 10 participants will be recruited from the Dermatology departments at Solihull and Warwick Hospitals. These will be patients who have successfully been treated for malignant melanoma at Stages I or II and have been attending follow up appointments for between six and eighteen months post end of treatment. Potential participants will be provided with information packs at follow up appointments with their skin cancer nurse specialist and invited to contact the chief investigator should they be interested in participating.
    Participants will be guided through the telling of their experience by semi-structured interview. This data will be analysed using IPA methodology. It is anticipated that this research will provide much needed input into the clinical needs of this population and how services may best intervene to support.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/WM/0274

  • Date of REC Opinion

    9 Aug 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion