Ovarian cancer and feeding into a vein
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Ovarian cancer and feeding into a vein: views and experiences of patients, carers and staff
IRAS ID
210739
Contact name
Sorrel Burden
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, when women are very sick with complications. One of these complications is bowel blockage, which can cause women to feel very poorly. This affects their quality of life, as women with a bowel blockage can experience pain and sickness. This means they cannot eat or drink enough, which can potentially lead to thirst and starvation. Treatment (chemotherapy) can be used to make the cancer smaller, and to help with these symptoms. Some women with these problems are also given parenteral nutrition - this is a form of liquid food given via a vein. If the chemotherapy does not work and the bowel continues to be blocked, some women may need or choose to continue this feeding at home. However, very little research has been performed yet looking into the patient and carer experience; why some patients choose to continue with the feeding and some do not, and whether and how much parenteral nutrition helps these women. There is a pressing need for research to fill this knowledge gap.
This study will investigate the views and experiences of women with bowel blockage caused by ovarian cancer and their families of parenteral nutrition. The views and decision making process of staff regarding parenteral nutrition for these patients will also be explored.
This data will be collected by interview. Women will be interviewed on a suitable place in the hospital ward and at home, if they go home on parenteral nutrition, order to build up a picture of what happens to them. Patients will be invited into the study over an 18-month period. Women will be asked to nominate someone close to them. This individual will be interviewed at their home or other suitable venue. Staff will be interviewed at their place of work.REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0330
Date of REC Opinion
6 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion