None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to use focus groups to evaluate the acceptability of blood tests and other tests to monitor the treatment of oesophageal, stomach and bowel cancers. Who: You are eligible to join this study if you are aged over 18 years old and have either (1) had treatment for oesophageal, stomach or bowel cancer, (2) provided a support role for someone who has had one of these cancers, or (3) are a clinician who provides clinical care and treatment for these cancers. Study details: All consented participants will take part in a phone interview to collect background details, followed by a 45 minute focus group at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Bedford Park, South Australia. Focus groups will include discussions on the knowledge, trust and experience with tests for monitoring of treatment for oesophageal, stomach and bowel cancers, in particular, blood tests. This research will help to determine the acceptability of different test methods for clinical care, by patients, carers and clinicians. This will help to improve clinical care strategies for cancer.
Interventions
Over recent years there has been an increase in the development of new blood tests for the use in detection, monitoring and surveillance of cancers. It is important that acceptability to cancer surveillance with blood biomarkers is identified through a range of approaches. This research will use focus groups to identify acceptability of blood biomarker tests, as well as other methods such as CT scans and colonoscopy, for use in cancer surveillance. This will be done with: (1) people who have und
Over recent years there has been an increase in the development of new blood tests for the use in detection, monitoring and surveillance of cancers. It is important that acceptability to cancer surveillance with blood biomarkers is identified through a range of approaches. This research will use focus groups to identify acceptability of blood biomarker tests, as well as other methods such as CT scans and colonoscopy, for use in cancer surveillance. This will be done with: (1) people who have undergone treatment for the different cancers (oesophageal, stomach or bowel), (2) their carers or support persons, and (3) clinicians who are involved in cancer treatment. Individuals who have undergone treatment for oesophageal, stomach, or bowel cancer during the prior three years will be identified via the gastrointestinal cancer clinic lists at the Flinders Medical Centre for invitation into a focus group, along with their nominated support person. Clinicians will be invited into the focus groups through an information session or email. Prior to the focus group, consented individuals will be contacted by a member of the research team to collect baseline characteristics (e.g., demographics, details about cancer stage and treatment, roles covered as a support person or clinician). Focus groups will be held in person at Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Bedford Park, South Australia, or via a web-based option such as Zoom or Microsoft TEAMS. The focus group will take approximately 45 minutes and each participant will only participate in one focus group. Separate focus groups will be held for patients, carers and clinicians, with approximately 6 people invited into each session. The focus groups will be led by facilitators (study researchers) who will follow a semi-structured format and follow the discussion guide which has been designed specifically for this study. Topics in the discussion guide include knowledge, trust and acceptability of different tests for monitoring cancer treatment, and for providing post-cancer surveillance, with a particular focus on blood-based tests.
Sponsors
Flinders Medical Centre
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Participants, carers and clinicians who fit the following criteria will be invited into the study: 1) be over 18 years of age and be willing to participate in a focus group either in person at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (Bedford Park, South Australia), or be able to participate in group discussion via a web-based format e.g. Microsoft Teams or Zoom. 2) have undergone treatment (within the previous 3 years) of stomach, oesophageal or bowel cancer, OR have supported someone who has a history of one of these cancers, OR work in a clinical role providing clinical care for patients with these cancers.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded if: 1) They are in the palliative phase of their cancer; 2) Have any underlying conditions (e.g., anxiety/depression) where discussing their diagnosis and treatment might exacerbate any symptoms. Participants, carers or clinicians will be excluded if: 1) They have a perceived or actual conflict of interest relating to any blood biomarker tests.
Outcome results
None listed