Understanding the benefits & harms of van-based transient elastography
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the potential benefits and harms of receiving an immediate liver FibroScan result in those with risk factors for chronic liver disease undergoing community van-based transient elastography: a qualitative study
IRAS ID
341140
Contact name
Ashwin Dhanda
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 10 days
Research summary
The death rate in people with chronic liver disease (CLD) has increased by 400% since the 1970s and the rate of new diagnosis of liver cancer has more than trebled during the same period. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and the prognosis for this condition is much worse when it is diagnosed at a late stage (Beecroft et al., 2023). Unfortunately it is difficult to diagnose liver cancer at an early stage as people usually don't have symptoms until their cancer is already at a late stage.
FibroScans are non-invasive, bedside ultrasound scans which detect liver stiffness. This scan is relatively quick and patients tend to prefer FibroScans to more traditional or invasive investigations such as a liver biopsy. Liver stiffness can be a sign of liver cirrhosis or liver cancer as well as other CLDs. As such, FibroScans have the potential to diagnose liver cancer at an earlier stage.
This study will investigate the possible benefits and harms of undergoing a community van-based FibroScan and receiving an instant result as part of a Community Liver Health Check (CLHC) using 1:1 interviews. The CLHCs are being conducted at pilot sites including Plymouth in the hope of diagnosing liver cancer at an earlier stage.
Other studies have looked at whether Fibroscans done away from hospitals encourage patients to make changes such as reducing alcohol consumption. However, there is a lack of evidence to support the use of mobile units such as vans in conducting FibroScans or the pros and cons of giving a normal or abnormal result to someone with known risk factors for liver disease.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0128
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion