Treatment decision making in muscle invasive bladder cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Treatment decision making in patients with muscle invasive bladder in Greater Manchester – A Case study approach
IRAS ID
306818
Contact name
Helen Johnson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Huddersfield
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Bladder cancer patients report significantly worse experiences than patients with other urological cancers when it comes to involvement with treatment decision making. For patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer, historically surgical removal of the bladder has been the treatment of choice, however there is increasing evidence that radiotherapy is a feasible alternative for patients to keep their bladders and reduce the risks associated with major surgery, with a similar chance of cure.
Patients who are suitable for both options should be given the choice between surgery or radiotherapy as their final treatment. No work has been done evaluating the support bladder cancer patients receive when faced with these decisions, even though both of these options are associated with different psychological, social and physical consequences. This research is interested in how bladder cancer patients decide which treatment to have, how they get their information and what helps or hinders their decision, as well as how health care teams are involved in this process.
The pathway from diagnosis to treatment for a cohort of patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer will be mapped out across three NHS organisations where radiotherapy and surgical treatments take place. Multi-disciplinary team meetings where treatment decisions are made by clinical teams as well as clinical consultations will be observed to gain understanding of what takes place in the patient/clinician appointment. Finally, patient interviews will be conducted which will seek to explore people’s views on making treatment decisions and the barriers and facilitators to reaching a conclusion about which treatment path to take.
This study will seek to provide important information which will be able to be shared with clinical teams and patients to help to improve the support that bladder cancer patients receive with making decisions about treatment in the future.REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0566
Date of REC Opinion
10 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion