Survey of patients’ management of early cancer symptoms

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    What actions do people take to manage symptoms prior to seeking medical help for lung or colorectal cancer?

  • IRAS ID

    124103

  • Contact name

    Frances Notman

  • Contact email

    f.notman@abdn.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian

  • Research summary

    This quantitative study aims to investigate patients’ symptom management in the period before their lung or colorectal cancer is diagnosed. It will identify time points in the pre-diagnostic pathways where interventions might have prompted earlier diagnosis of lung or colorectal cancers and will explore the potential for community pharmacy intervention to facilitate earlier detection of these cancers. This study will take place in three health board areas: Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Tayside and Grampian. Lists of patients diagnosed with Lung or colorectal cancer in the previous 12 months will be generated from either an electronic disease register or from the clinic appointments. Patients will be checked by the consultants for eligibility to receive the questionnaire. The questionnaires will be sent out by the researcher, or handed to the patient in the clinic by the consultant, depending on the agreed method of recruitment in each Health Board area (PLEASES SEE SECTION 6.2 Participant recruitment). A covering letter, signed by the lead physician, a participant information leaflet and a reply paid envelope for returning the completed questionnaires will be included with the questionnaire in the questionnaire pack. The data will be entered into an SPSS (Version 20.0) database on a password protected computer and statistically analysed by the researcher.

  • REC name

    London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/LO/1070

  • Date of REC Opinion

    15 Jul 2013

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion