Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The introduction of oral medications to treat cancer is a new and welcome development in cancer management. These are called oral anticancer medications (OAM) and are an attractive option for patients. OAMs are being approved at record-setting pace over the past 3 years for oncology and are widely used in Ireland. Currently in Ireland, patients on OAM are being treated in hospital day units by consultants, and their specialist teams. Increased use of OAM has put significant pressure on acute oncology services and is unsustainable. To address these issues, the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 recommended the development of a model of care for OAM. Nurse-led clinics, either face-to-face or virtually using technology, have emerged as an ideal means to achieve safe convenient care for individuals on OAMs. Research shows high levels of patient satisfaction with such nurse-led care with a positive impact on patient outcomes, patient satisfaction and access to care. Health services are now focused on keeping people in their communities and the Irish Sláintecare report (2018) aims to deliver care closer to the person's home. This is particularly pertinent during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize hospital visits. This study aims to establish a new model of care for this cohort of patients which concord with the 2018 National Cancer Control Programme OAM Model of Care Recommendations. This pilot study will assess the safety and efficacy of the proposed model of care.
Who can participate?
Patients with cancer currently taking OAMs
What does the study involve?
Phase 1 will describe the current ANP-led Oral Anti-cancer Medication (OAM) virtual clinics established in response to COVID-19 pandemic and this phase will last for up to 1 year. Phase 2 aims to produce a protocol for a pilot study of an improved version of the current virtual clinic which is fit for purpose with or without the COVID context. Taking part involves giving consent for information on the individuals' healthcare to be collected for analysis. The participants will also be given the opportunity to share their opinions during group discussions (focus groups) or interviews to find out how the service can be improved.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
A risk that potentially could occur is that a data breach that could cause an identity to be known, however, every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality in line with all data protection regulations. There is no direct benefit from participating in this study but information obtained may help direct the future management of patients on oral anti-cancer medication.
Where is the study run from?
Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) and the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) (Ireland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2020 to September 2022
Who is funding the study?
Irish Cancer Society (Ireland)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Janice Richmond
janicep.richmond@hse.ie
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Dr Janice Richmond
ORCID ID
Contact details
Oncology Department
Letterkenny University Hospital
Letterkenny
F92 AE81
Ireland
+353 (0)749123648
janicep.richmond@hse.ie
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Prof Andrew Murphy
ORCID ID
Contact details
National University of Ireland Galway
Galway
-
Ireland
+353 (0)91 524411
andrew.murphy@nuigalway.ie
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
CNRA19RICH
Study information
Scientific title
Establish and analyse the safety and efficacy of an integrated care model for the management of patients receiving oral anti-cancer agents in the community by an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP): a pilot study
Acronym
ARC
Study hypothesis
The aim of this study is to analyse the safety and efficacy of a virtual ANP-led clinic for patients receiving OAM established in response to COVID-19 and plan for eventual transition care from the virtual ANP clinic to the community, within the Irish healthcare system.
Ethics approval
Approved 12/08/2020, Letterkenny University Hospital Ethics Committee (c/o General Managers Office, Letterkenny University Hospital, Co Donegal, Ireland; +353 (0)74 9123501; vanessa.savva@hse.ie), ref: not applicable
Study design
Collaborative multidisciplinary pilot study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Internet
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
Individuals with cancer or taking oral anti-cancer medication (OAMs)
Intervention
This is a two-phase study, aiming to:
1. Design an ANP integrated oncology care model for the administration of OAM with input from local and national stakeholders and existing literature
2. Pilot test the feasibility, acceptability and costs of this model of care to inform the design of a future trial
The design of this study is based on the Development and Feasibility/piloting phases of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions to improve health
In consultation with local and national stakeholders and existing literature, the researchers will develop and refine this model of care. Focus groups/interviews will be conducted with healthcare providers and patients receiving OAMs, as this approach is appropriate for gathering different perspectives and to facilitate discussion, debate and problem-solving. Information collected on patients participating in this study will include a range of quantitative data. Attendance time, adverse events, adherence with taking medications as prescribed, frequency of contact with ANP are some of the data that will be collected. Questionnaires will be collected from participants to assess their health status, as well as their experience of the ANP model of care. Some patients will be asked to participate in one-to-one interviews with a member of the research team. The design of this study is based on the Development and Feasibility/piloting phases of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions to improve health. Use of the MRC framework ensures that a solid basis for an effective intervention is developed that is based on local knowledge and international evidence.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Quality of life measured using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire at baseline and 6-month follow-up
2. The experiences of patients and healthcare providers gathered using qualitative interviews/focus groups at one timepoint during the intervention
Secondary outcome measures
1. Quantitative data describing the intervention, e.g. patient waiting time, and intervention outcomes, e.g. adverse events and toxicity, gathered using study logs and predesigned forms. Toxicity grading system will be used throughout. The forms to capture the specific data will be unique to this study and developed for its purpose. This data will be captured at each patient visit and will continue to be captured throughout the study period.
2. Healthcare resource use measured using questionnaire at baseline and 6-month follow-up
Overall trial start date
08/04/2020
Overall trial end date
14/09/2022
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Currently receiving an oral anti-cancer treatment
2. Have received OAM within 6 months of data collection commencing
3. Aged 18 and over
4. Cognitively able to provide informed consent and complete the study activities
5. An ECOG performance status of 0-2
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
40
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Refusal to participate
2. Patients not taking oral anticancer medication.
Recruitment start date
14/09/2020
Recruitment end date
14/06/2021
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Ireland
Trial participating centre
Letterkenny University Hospital
Oncology Dept
Letterkenny
f92 ae81
Ireland
Sponsor information
Organisation
Irish Cancer Society
Sponsor details
Northumberland Road
Dublin 6
Dublin
Dublin 6
Ireland
+353 (0)12310500
research@irishcacner.ie
Sponsor type
Charity
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
Irish Cancer Society
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Other non-profit organizations
Location
Ireland
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Results will be shared with the study sponsor (Irish Cancer Society) and the National Cancer Control Programme and planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement
The data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
14/09/2023
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list