Viability of prostate cancer patient focus group (PCPFG)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An initiative to investigate the viability and usefulness of a prostate cancer patient focus group trained to comment on research proposals at the development stage.
IRAS ID
169069
Contact name
Patrick J Magill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospital
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
UCL R&D Number, 15/0247
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The proposal is to set up a group of informed patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer to represent the views of patients on research into the disease, led by a patient (Dr Patrick Magill). Patients will be identified by co-investigators from those attending clinics for the investigation or treatment of prostate cancer in University College London Hospital (UCLH), or the UCLH Macmillan Centre, or the Prostate Group at Mount Vernon Hospital and will be invited to consider membership of the group. Patients will be offered two training sessions geared to lay people on the nature of research, the role of uncertainty in clinical research, the formulation of research questions, the role of observational research and an overview of the methodology (including its limitations) used in testing interventions in prostate cancer. We aim to achieve a group of informed, concerned, patients who are able to discuss aspects of prostate cancer research including the psychosocial impact of the disease at a higher level than untrained patients. The training sessions will draw heavily on specific examples of research in prostate cancer and will extrapolate from the specific to the general. The following four sessions will concentrate on specific research proposals. The methodology will be refined between meetings in response to feedback from patients in the focus group. Success will be judged from the number of patients who continue to attend the sessions and on perceptions of the usefulness of the exercise from patients and from investigators who have presented proposals. Outcomes will be documented by questionnaires as well as qualitative techniques. Topics will be consistent with the research aims of the Division of Surgery and the themes that Professor Emberton, Head of Division, holds. Discussions of clinical and translational research are seen as particularly valuable areas but pre-clinical projects may also be included.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0828
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion