Co-CaRe: A Collaborative Cancer Resource
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What works? Co-producing an evidence-based cancer staff wellbeing training toolkit and psychosocial patient reported experience measure to improve support for patients and their families living with cancer and its treatments
IRAS ID
324252
Contact name
Jenny Harris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cancer diagnosis is psychologically demanding for patients, and oncology staff report high levels of stress due to feeling unprepared to provide the necessary psychosocial support to their patients. This project seeks to address this using a collaborative approach involving cancer patients, their relatives, and staff. Participants will be diagnosed with brain, lung, prostate, or skin cancer patients/their relatives/staff at Royal Surrey County Hospital who are over 18 years old and are able to provide consent.
The project has a multiple-phase design with two distinct work packages :
Work Package 1 aims to identify patients’, their relatives’, and staff priorities in cancer care. Firstly, a series of interviews will take place with patients and their relatives, and oncology staff. These will be used to identify key priorities which will then be assessed in collaborative workshops; one patient/relatives only, one staff only, and one combined. The findings from these will be used to create a care package that includes staff training resources and cancer wellbeing resources. This toolkit will then be tested and evaluated by an initial cohort of staff who did not contribute towards the workshops.Work Package 2 aims to create and evaluate a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM). A rapid evidence review will be conducted to see what current measures are available. We will then develop a draft PREM that will be tested by patients for its coherence and relevance. Feedback received will be used to further develop and update the PREM to ensure its appropriateness.
Long-term anticipated benefits are that patients/relatives have a more positive experience of cancer services, and staff feel more confident in their ability to provide psychological support to patients/their relatives.
Research activities will take place both at St Luke’s Cancer Centre (Royal Surrey County Hospital), and online (Microsoft Teams). The study will last until 30th September 2023.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0057
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion