Demographics and needs of patients referred to Supportive Care Teams

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Demographics and needs of patients referred to Supportive Care Teams (ASSESS)

• IRAS ID

  342543

• Contact name

  Lydia Briggs

• Contact email

  lydia.briggs3@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 3 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  The landscape of cancer care has changed dramatically in recent years, and supportive and palliative care services have been required to adapt to meet the changing needs of the population. However, no research has been conducted to understand the characteristics of those patients who are being referred to Supportive Care Teams (SCTs). It is also unclear how patients move through acute cancer services once referred to SCTs, which other services they interact with, and whether their needs are met by these services. Therefore, this study aims to develop categories that represent the different groups of cancer patients referred to SCTs, and to explore if their needs are being met through the care provided within their cancer journey.
  The study will include three phases. Phase 1 will collect retrospective data detailing patient demographics and clinical details, to gather information on the types of people referred to SCTs. Phase 2 will build on Phase 1 data, using healthcare professional focus groups to develop patient classifications or categories. In Phase 3, patients from each of the identified categories will be selected for mixed-methods case studies. This data will map their journey through cancer services, and explore whether their needs were met. Interviews and assessments will be conducted with patients to provide a deeper understanding of their needs and interactions with SCT and other cancer services. Data analysis will be undertaken using descriptive statistics for all quantitative data (Phase 1 data, and the quantitative component of Phase 3). For qualitative data, Nominal Group Technique will be used and discussed during focus groups to reach consensus in Phase 2. Phase 3 qualitative data will use thematic analysis. The development of patient categories and a better understanding of their journey through cancer services will help to deliver more personalised care and ensure patients’ needs are met.

• REC name

  London - South East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/PR/1166

• Date of REC Opinion

  26 Sep 2024

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion