The QUALMS study v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quality of Life outcomes in patients with Incidental and Operated Meningiomas (QUALMS): a cross-sectional cohort study
IRAS ID
269742
Contact name
Michael Jenkinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
The QUALMS study will investigate the impact on quality of life of having either an incidental meningioma or surgery to remove a meningioma. Meningiomas are brain tumours that arise from the linings of the brain. Meningiomas that are found by chance on brain scans (e.g. CT or MRI) are called incidental meningiomas. An operated meningioma is one that was removed by surgery. The QUALMS study will recruit ~300 patients to complete quality of life questionnaires.\n\nThe aim of this study is to investigate the impact on quality of life of patients who have an incidental meningioma or had surgery to remove a meningioma.\n\nThis study will involve contacting patients at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust who have either been told that they have an incidental meningioma or have previously had a surgery to remove a meningioma. If participants consent to participate in the study, they will be sent 4 questionnaires which will ask questions focussing on both general aspects of quality of life, and also those more specifically related to brain tumours. The participant’s hospital notes will also be reviewed. \n\nThe study will begin in August 2019 and potential participants will be contacted and asked to complete the questionnaires until January 2020. Then study data will be analysed by July 2020, followed by write up.\n\nHaving an incidental meningioma may cause some anxiety for patients. This makes it important for doctors to understand the quality of life for patients with an incidental meningioma. The outcome for operated meningioma is good, however, treatment may affect a patient’s quality of life. Not much is known about how surgery to remove a meningioma affects a patient’s quality of life. This makes it more important to examine the long-term effects of surgery. Understanding this would help doctors to better support patients in the future.Summary of Results
Meningioma is the commonest primary brain tumour. Many of these are ‘incidental’ and found by chance on neuroimaging, whilst others cause symptoms. Patients can live many years following diagnosis or treatment of their meningioma. However, little is known about patients’ well-being in the longer-term. This study used three health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires to understand patients’ long-term well-being better. The study included patients whom the healthcare team had followed up for at least five years since their diagnosis or surgery. This study found that meningioma patients have lower well-being than the general population. Employed patients, with higher education levels and without postoperative complications reported better overall HRQoL. Patients who have and have not had surgery had similar HRQoL. Healthcare professionals should be aware that patients may struggle many years following their diagnosis or treatment. Patients should be directed to appropriate sources of support.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0181
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion