Integrated rehabilitation for thoracic cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Short term integrated rehabilitation for people with thoracic cancer: A feasibility trial
IRAS ID
231092
Contact name
Joanne L Bayly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
At any one time, over 65,000 people are alive in the UK with a diagnosis of lung cancer or mesothelioma. The conditions and medical treatment (with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery) cause many symptoms that affect day-to-day life, including breathlessness, weakness and tiredness or fatigue. Despite this, patients report that they wish to remain independent and not be a burden. Rehabilitation treatments can help to relieve these symptoms and support people to stay active and independent whilst living with lung cancer or mesothelioma. Most research studies to date have offered rehabilitation in the form of supervised exercise programmes or specific symptom interventions. People who haven’t yet reported symptoms may not be referred for rehabilitation. The exercise programmes involve moderate to vigorous physical training, over months, and often take place in a hospital setting. They require a lot of commitment from the person newly diagnosed with cancer who may be attending many hospital appointments for medical treatments. Many people do not feel able to take part in this kind of programme, so miss out on rehabilitation. This feasibility trial aims to test an innovative, short term integrated rehabilitation service designed to help more people access and benefit from rehabilitation. The service aims to optimise people’s capacity to tolerate cancer treatment and minimise the disabling impact of symptoms and treatment related side effects. It will deliver tailored rehabilitation to help people self-manage symptoms, optimise fitness and physical activity levels and maintain participation in everyday activities. It will be delivered over three sessions. People can choose to be seen at the hospital when they attend for a scheduled appointment or their own home. Sessions two and three sessions can be telephone appointments. It will integrate with the person’s health care team and will include onward referral and signposting to existing rehabilitation services when indicated.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1871
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion