Accessing lung cancer care in urban and rural settings (Ver 0.1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the impact of distance and disadvantage on lung cancer care and outcomes: A qualitative interview study in urban and rural settings
IRAS ID
328531
Contact name
David Nelson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Why: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for 21% of all cancer deaths in the UK. But there are wide variations in lung cancer care and inequalities in survival outcomes. Most research so far has focussed on improving the quality of lung cancer clinical services. But there is less research into how patient-related factors, such as personal circumstance and location relative to specialist lung cancer services, contribute to this variation.
What: This study is funded by and forms part of a broader project run by Cancer Research UK focused on achieving universal access to optimal diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer patients. The aim is to speak to people with lung cancer and their close friends and family members involved in their care, to understand how factors such as age, socioeconomic deprivation, personal circumstances, ethnicity, and fitness, as well as their location relative to specialist lung cancer services, affect their engagement with an optimal diagnosis and treatment pathway.
Who and where: Up to 60 lung cancer patients who are being treated at Barts Health NHS Trust or United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust will be recruited to take part in the study, along with up to 60 of their close friend or family carers. This is so researchers can compare experiences between urban (North East London) and rural (Lincolnshire) areas.
How: Participants will be invited to speak with researchers, in a one-off interview, either in person (at home or at a local university), over the telephone or video-call. The interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed, then researchers will analyse these transcripts using a process called framework analysis. This will allow researchers to identify patterns in factors that affect patients and carers engagement with their lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, and recommend ways of helping them.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0255
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion