What is the impact of Improving the Cancer Journey V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the impact of a community based cancer service: a five-year prospective study
IRAS ID
185190
Contact name
A Snowden
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) is a community based service run by Glasgow City Council in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. The service,launched in February 2014, provides direct advice and assistance to people affected by cancer in Glasgow. There is currently a 42% rate of uptake for this service. Specifically, all individuals with a cancer diagnosis or re-occurrence are invited to have a holistic needs assessment (HNA) followed by the development of an individualised care plan. HNA is a process of gathering and discussing information with an individual through focusing on several dimensions of their well-being such as practical, psychological, social and emotional issues. It is delivered by a trained link support officer, who is employed by Glasgow City Council.
The aim of this research is to understand if and how ICJ changes outcomes and experiences for people living with and affected by cancer. Objectives are:
- To identify the impact of ICJ on people affected by cancer.
- To model the economic impact of ICJ.
- To understand the process of ICJ as experienced by individuals in receipt of the service, the service providers, and the wider culture.This will take place over 5 years and a mixed method design will be used. A variety of methods will be used including; questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, observations and reflective diaries. Participants will be people affected by cancer who have used the ICJ service, people affected by cancer who have not used the service, link support officers (who deliver the service) and a control group (people outside of Glasgow) who will provide anonymised secondary data on service usage only.
Annual reports will be produced for our funders presenting year on year comparisons culminating in a final report in 2020. Annual learning and reflection workshops will also run alongside each reporting stage.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
15/WS/0199
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion