Lived experience of best supportive care in advanced lung cancer v0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of patients and carers lived experience of best supportive care in advanced lung cancer and the impact of socioeconomic deprivation.
IRAS ID
330621
Contact name
Esther Downham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Glasgow on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Scotland, and the leading cause of cancer death. A significant majority of patients have advanced disease at diagnosis. These patients are often not well enough to receive disease-modifying anticancer treatment, and have a prognosis measured in short months. Lung cancer is most common in socioeconomically deprived populations, where patients are less likely to receive disease-modifying anticancer treatment. In Glasgow, health inequalities between deprived and affluent populations are pronounced.
‘Best supportive care’ (BSC) is a term used to describe the care of patients with advanced cancer who do not receive disease-modifying anticancer treatment. BSC implies that there is an optimised care pathway for patients, however there is no agreed definition or standard of BSC, and no key team overseeing BSC. Little is known about the care these patients and their carers experience.
We know that palliative care is important in advanced lung cancer, to address a high symptom burden and improve quality of life. However, lung cancer patients and those from socioeconomically deprived areas have inadequate access to palliative care.
Previous studies examining the needs and experiences of lung cancer patients have focussed on or included patients receiving disease-modifying anticancer treatment. No studies have solely examined the care and experiences of patients who are for BSC.
This qualitative study will explore patient and carer experiences of BSC in advanced lung cancer and the impact of socioeconomic deprivation within the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, with the goal of improving care. We will conduct several interviews between diagnosis and death with patients with advanced lung cancer who are for BSC from diagnosis, and a nominated carer. This will include a carer interview after the patient has died. Participants will be interviewed two-three times during the study. Demographic and clinical details will be collected to contextualise interview information.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0240
Date of REC Opinion
19 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion