Exploring the impact of receiving a VUD HSCT far from home on coping.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
‘Home Sick’: Exploring the impact of receiving a volunteer unrelated donor haematopoietic stem cell transplant far from home on the perceived coping of patients residing in the NHS Highland region.
IRAS ID
158316
Contact name
Sarah L. Wilson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Highland
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Stem cell transplants are used to treat cancers and bone marrow failure syndromes that affect the production of healthy blood cells. This study will look at patients who have had Volunteer Unrelated Donor transplants (VUD). This means that an unrelated donor’s stem cells are transplanted into the patient.
Across Scotland, all patients undergoing a VUD donor transplant will attend the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWoSCC) in Glasgow for their procedure. For patients from NHS Highland region, this means they have to travel great distances (e.g. approximately 170 miles from Inverness, 288 miles from John O’Groats and 207 miles from Portree) and are often away from home for lengthy periods of time during the course of their treatment. This may have an impact on how they are able to cope.
This project aims to show the experience of traveling long distances to the BWoSCC and remaining away from home during treatment impacted on how NHS Highland patients' coped.
The study will interview between four and ten participants and ask them to describe their experiences. Participants will each complete a single interview lasting up to one hour, which will be audio-recorded. The interviews will take place in the outpatient department of Raigmore Hospital, Inverness which patients already attend for their follow-up care. Participants can complete the interview over the phone if they wish (e.g. if they live far from Inverness). The patients will complete a consent form prior to the interview.
Once the interviews are complete they will be transcribed and analysed for themes relating to participants’ experiences. The results of this study will help us understand the factors and resources which helped the participants to cope during their stem cell transplant. This information can then be used to help prepare future patients as they embark on their treatment journey.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/1183
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion