Cancer and Dementia_May 2014

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Improving the experience of out-patient cancer treatment for people with comorbid dementia in Wales.

• IRAS ID

  156871

• Contact name

  Jane Hopkinson

• Contact email

  HopkinsonJB@cf.ac.uk

• Research summary

  Cancer specialists are treating a growing population of older people who are suffering with both cancer and dementia. Memory loss and an inability to understand and retain new information are problems that affect those with dementia and milder cognitive impairment. For the cancer patient with memory problems there can be difficulty with decisions concerning their cancer treatments (including side effects) and symptom management. To date there has been little research to investigate such issues.

  This study aims to explore the specific needs of two cohorts; people with cancer and dementia and people with cancer and memory problems receiving outpatient cancer treatment, how these needs are currently met and if there is potential for improving patient experience and outcomes. Talking with cancer clinicians, it seems there are challenges in the treatment and care of these two cohorts (patients with cancer and dementia and patients with cancer and memory problems), but to our knowledge, these have not previously been examined systematically.

  We plan to conduct an ethnographic study at one Cancer Centre, Cardiff. This will be an in-depth examination of the experiences of people receiving out-patient treatment who have cancer and dementia or cancer and memory problems and their families. This will be over a four month period within four outpatient clinics. We will estimate the number of patients with diagnosed dementia from a retrospective note review, observe clinical practice to explore the everyday work of staff relating to the treatment and care of people with dementia and / or memory problems and interview up to 12 patients and their family carers.

  We anticipate developing insight into and understanding of the experience of cancer treatment for patients with dementian and/or memory problems that can inform the provision of supportive care for these people in the future.
  
  The study is funded by Tenovus

• REC name

  Wales REC 1

• REC reference

  14/WA/1001

• Date of REC Opinion

  10 Jun 2014

• REC opinion

  Unfavourable Opinion