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Ii-HANC Improving Incurable Head and Neck Cancer Healthcare Experiences

NCT05714436 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 69

Last updated 2025-04-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This research aims to improve experiences of patients with incurable head and neck cancer (IHNC) by finding out the most pressing issues for them and developing solutions to improve these.

Patients with IHNC have many complex needs and the level of support they require is often greater than other illnesses. IHNC symptoms cause major changes to basic functions, such as: being unable to talk; severe swallowing problems with a high choking risk; breathing difficulties requiring a hole in the neck (tracheostomy). The manner of death can be highly traumatic and frightening e.g. catastrophic bleeding from the neck. Despite this poor outlook, little is known about patients' needs in the last year of life. However, IHNC patients have more emergency hospital visits compared with other cancer groups. Patients from poorer areas are more likely to die in hospital. Furthermore, head and neck cancer (HNC) units are centralised, with access to specialist services dependent on where the patient lives.

The researcher wishes to understand 'stress points' in the patients' journey, where things do not go as planned, identify priorities for change and develop patient-led solutions.

There are two main parts to this work, occurring over 21-months across Yorkshire, Northwest and Northeast England.

1. A series of up to three interviews with approximately 25 IHNC patients and their families, along with group discussions with healthcare workers involved in IHNC care. These will explore how patients' needs and use of healthcare change over time.
2. Using interview and group discussion findings, the study team will hold a series of workshops with patients, families, clinical service leaders, and healthcare workers. The study team will identify priorities and develop ways to improve care experiences.

The research is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit programme.

Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Sheffield

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Newcastle Upon-Tyne

    collaborator OTHER

  • University of Liverpool

    collaborator OTHER

  • Lancaster University

    collaborator OTHER

  • Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Catriona Mayland · Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-04-19
Primary Completion
2024-12-31
Completion
2024-12-31

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05714436 on ClinicalTrials.gov