The Cancer Key Worker: Perceptions and Actions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Establishing Perceptions and Attitudes of Cancer Survivors and Cancer Health Care Professionals in ABMU Health Board, using focus groups on the Welsh Government Cancer Key Worker Initiative
IRAS ID
155063
Contact name
Melanie Thomas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
ABMU Local Health Board
Research summary
The Cancer Key Worker concept was first introduced in the NICE Cancer Guidelines in 2004 stating that the cancer key worker is a coordinating role which is central to the patient’s cancer journey in providing information, support and guidance. In 2010, the Welsh Government (WG) National Standards for Rehabilitation of Adult Cancer Patients was published declaring by March 2011, every cancer patient in Wales should have a dedicated cancer key worker. In June, 2012, the WG Strategy, Together for Health- Cancer Delivery Plan for NHS in Wales again stated that Health Boards were to ‘assign a Key Worker to each person with cancer, from the point of diagnosis onwards, to coordinate their ongoing care’.
Unfortunately, implementation of the cancer key worker has been inconsistent across Wales. This is due to a lack of clear understanding of the role from Health Care Professionals (HCP) working in the cancer field and an erroneous definition. There is also deficiency in cancer patients' perceptions of the key worker role and the potential benefits this role could bring to their cancer survivorship.
This project aims to discover what different HCP disciplines (Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists) think of the cancer key worker concept. It aims to develop greater knowledge of the barriers to the implementation and highlight any differences amongst the professions all to improve execution. It will also discover perceptions and attitudes from different cancer patients on the role and the prospective benefits. This information will then provide us with more detail to implement the cancer key worker concept.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
14/WA/1017
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion