The Voices of AYA and Clinical Professionals in Oncology - version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Voices of AYA and Clinical Professionals in Oncology: Experiences, Thoughts and Concerns relating to Monitoring and Managing Fatigue. A Qualitative Study.
IRAS ID
363202
Contact name
Martin McCabe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
The purpose of the study is to implement a qualitative method to understand the experiences, thoughts and concerns adolescents and young adults (AYA), who have been diagnosed with cancer, and clinical professionals (CP), who work in oncology, have towards monitoring and managing fatigue. To achieve this, the lead researcher will conduct semi-structured interviews online. The transcripts will be thematically analysed to identify themes that emerge that relate to the experience AYA have encountered around the monitoring and management of fatigue, how they felt about the process and any concerns they hold towards it. The same process will also be applied to the transcripts of CP to identify the experiences they have had with monitoring and managing patients with fatigue in oncology, how they felt about the methodology used, and any concern they have towards how fatigue has been and/or is currently being managed. In addition, all the participants in the study will be asked to share their thoughts regarding understanding physiological data, and the implementation of a wearable device to use as a biomarker for fatigue. The study will assist in identifying the current state of methods used to assess fatigue in AYA population as well as provide a holistic insight into how individuals feel about how fatigue is currently managed in oncology. Wearable devices are gaining popularity in clinical practice and have potential to be used to monitor and manage fatigue during and beyond the cancer trajectory. To conduct research to discover how fatigue could be assessed via a wearable device, it is necessary to gage the current perspective and understanding that both AYA and CP have towards the methods that are being used in oncology. Qualitative methods can allow research to gain a person-centred, unforeseen insight into an experience around a phenomenon. The study can assist in optimising outcomes in cancer care by learning how AYA and CP feel about how fatigue is and could be monitored, and what concerns need to be addressed to better support and manage oncology care.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0328
Date of REC Opinion
18 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion