FACT: Factors Associated with lung Cancer Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Factors associated with late presentation in patients with lung cancer: A patient centred approach
IRAS ID
218136
Contact name
Rachel Gemine
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, primarily due to the late stage at which patients are diagnosed. Poor awareness of lung cancer symptoms and a reluctance to report these to the GP are a major cause of delay. We propose that by understanding current knowledge we can develop targeted campaigns to increase awareness and promote early diagnosis. We will invite 200 patients to complete a questionnaire to determine symptom awareness, triggers and barriers for presenting to the doctor and the effect of individual differences, such as smoking status, age and gender. In addition to the questionnaires, interviews will be conducted with a sub-set of 20-25 individuals to obtain a patient perspective and a more in-depth understanding of current awareness and factors influencing presentation and diagnosis. This will enable us to discover reasons why patients do not present earlier with signs and symptoms of lung cancer and use this to identify patients that are at risk of late diagnosis. We hope to gain a better understanding of patients' current symptom awareness and identify any gaps in public and patient knowledge, which can be used to inform subsequent literature.
Thematic analysis will be conducted and findings will be presented to a mixed group of 8-10 lung cancer patients and people who do not have lung cancer. The focus group will be used as an opportunity to capture a range of perspectives on strategies and campaign ideas to help enhance symptom awareness and diagnoses. These will then be used to develop an interventional trial with findings cascaded to relevant parties such as Tenovus, Lung Cancer Carmarthenshire and the Welsh Thoracic Society.
The primary aim is to educate the public to understand and respond to signs and symptoms of lung cancer. It is anticipated that this will lead to increased early detection, diagnosis, treatment and ultimately survival.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
16/WA/0372
Date of REC Opinion
28 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion