Gathering patients’, carers’ and doctors’ opinions on the use of blood tests to monitor the treatment of oesophageal, stomach and bowel cancers- a qualitative study

ABSTRACT: 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 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 sem Primary outcome(s): Knowledge of clinical tests to monitor cancer treatment and surveillance, which will be assessed using qualitative, audio recorded, 45-minute focus group discussions which will be semi-structured based upon a study-specific discussion guide.[1 month after recruitment (during the focus group)];Trust in clinical tests to monitor cancer treatment and surveillance, which will be assessed using qualitative, audio recorded, 45-minute focus group discussions which will be semi-structured based upon a study-specific discussion guide.[1 month after recruitment (during the focus group)];Experience of clinical tests to monitor cancer treatment and surveillance, which will be assessed using qualitative, audio recorded, 45-minute focus group discussions which will be semi-structured based upon a study-specific discussion guide.[1 month after recruitment (during the focus group)] Study Design: Purpose: Psychosocial;Duration: Cross-sectional;Selection: Defined population;Timing: Prospective

DISEASE(S): Stomach Cancer,Oral And Gastrointestinal-other Diseases Of The Mouth, Teeth, Oesophagus, Digestive System Including Liver And Colon,Bowel Cancer,Public Health-health Service Research,Oesophageal Cancer,Cancer-stomach,Cancer-bowel-back Passage (rectum) Or Large Bowel (colon),Cancer-oesophageal (gullet)

PROVIDER: 2473460 | ecrin-mdr-crc |

REPOSITORIES: ECRIN MDR