Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Barrett’s oesophagus is a condition where the lining of the gullet (food pipe/oesophagus) changes in response to inflammation usually caused by heartburn (acid reflux). This is a common condition but, in some people the lining of the gullet can change further to become cancerous. To identify cases at a treatable stage, the British Society of Gastroenterology guideline advised patients with Barrett’s oesophagus should have regular endoscopies (camera test down the gullet) every 2-5 years. This is known as surveillance. Currently, in the NHS, these tests are performed during a trained doctor or nurse endoscopy session. Within these sessions the endoscopist may see many different conditions and conduct different types of procedure.
This study aims to see if it would be beneficial or not to have a dedicated Barrett’s endoscopy session conducted by a doctor or nurse with a specialist interest in that area. There has been no previous research to ascertain whether a dedicated list improves the quality of the endoscopy performed. To assess this, Barrett’s oesophagus patients will be asked if they would be happy to be chosen at random to have their surveillance procedure during any endoscopy session (current normal practice) or on a dedicated Barrett’s endoscopy session. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire about how they feel about their condition, the care they receive and their symptoms. Information will also be collected about the camera test and biopsy results to check how closely the care provided follows current best practice guidelines.
It is hoped that this pilot study will provide the basis to justify a larger study to look for differences between the two types of service.
Who can participate?
Any adult (aged over 18 years) patient who has a diagnosis of Barrett's oesophagus who comes for regular routine camera tests to monitor it and is able to understand the study and make decisions for themselves.
What does the study involve?
Eligible, interested participants will be invited to meet a member of the research team to discuss the study and answer any questions about the study. If the participant is happy to be part of the study the researcher will explain the study and ask them to sign a consent form. Participants will then be chosen at random to have the surveillance procedure during any endoscopy session (current normal practice) or on a dedicated Barrett’s endoscopy session. Participants will not be told which list they have been allocated to. This will help keep the study results accurate and fair, but the procedure will be similar to previous experiences of surveillance for participants.
Presently there is no evidence that either service is better for patients, however if participants have any concerns this can be discussed with the study team before consent to participate is given.
After the endoscopy test, participants will be provided with a questionnaire to complete at home about their condition, and the care that they have received. The study team will also collect information about the camera test and biopsy results. After the test and completion of the questionnaire participants will return to current normal care and study involvement is complete. The consent process for the study should only take around 10 to 20 minutes, the endoscopy will last a long as usual surveillance tests experienced by the participant, and the questionnaire takes about 30-60minutes to complete.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The study may not have a direct benefit to the participants but will help to understand of Barrett’s oesophagus care pathways and support a larger study that may show one of these interventions improves the outcomes for Barrett’s patients. Although no health risks are expected to be associated with this study, there is some possibility that slightly different techniques will be provided at the different endoscopy lists. However, all participants will be seen by a clinician qualified to perform the test. There is no proof yet that either list is better than the other.
Where is the study run from?
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From October 2019 to January 2023
Who is funding the study?
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) and Medtronic (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Yeng Ang
Yeng.Ang@srft.nhs.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Yeng Ang
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0496-6710
Contact details
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Stott Lane
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
+44 (0)161 789 7373
yeng.ang@srft.nhs.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Elizabeth Ratcliffe
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6521-2133
Contact details
Leigh Endoscopy unit
Hanover street
Leigh
Wigan
WN7 1HS
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1942264060
Elizabeth.ratcliffe@srft.nhs.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Prof John McLaughlin
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6158-5135
Contact details
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Eccles Old Road
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1612064363
John.Mclaughlin@manchester.ac.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Prof Shaheen Hamdy
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9640-7427
Contact details
Clinical Sciences Building
Salford Royal Hospital
Eccles Old Road
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1612064363
shaheen.hamdy@manchester.ac.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Richard Keld
ORCID ID
Contact details
Endoscopy Department
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wigan Lane
Wigan
WN1 2NN
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1942 244 000
richard.keld@wwl.nhs.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
CPMS 45235, IRAS 261043
Study information
Scientific title
A randomised controlled pilot trial comparing current Barrett’s oesophagus surveillance endoscopy practice with a dedicated service
Acronym
DEBO pilot
Study hypothesis
A randomised controlled trial comparing a dedicated endoscopy service for Barrett's oesophagus versus current normal practice is feasible in the UK NHS hospital setting
Ethics approval
Approved 29/06/2020, MREC Greater Manchester South (3rd Floor, Barlow House, 4 Minshull Street, HRA NRES Centre Manchester M1 3DZ; +44 (0)207 104 8010; gmsouth.rec@hra.nhs.uk)
Study design
Single-centre randomized controlled pilot study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Barrett's oesophagus
Intervention
The dedicated service will be performed by an upper GI specialist consultant, nurse endoscopist, or clinical research fellow who has a specialist interest in the condition. This is defined by a self-declared interest and regular experience of performing Barrett's surveillance. The list should be scheduled appropriately and include only Barrett's patients. The non-dedicated lists are any other list performed by an endoscopist who is accredited by the Joint Advisory group to perform upper GI endoscopy who does not have a specialist interest in Barrett's and does not attend upper GI multidisciplinary meetings.
Patients who are known to have Barrett's oesophagus and who are due for their scheduled surveillance endoscopy will be found via booking department databases by the research nurses, chief investigator, principle investigator, or research fellow. They will be approached via sending an invitation letter with a participant information sheet in the 6-8 weeks approaching their endoscopy. They will invited to meet one of the study team who will check their capacity and consent them for the study.
Once they have consented to be in the study they will be randomised by the clinical trials assistant with an envelope-assisted randomisation procedure to either the dedicated list or routine list. The participant will not be informed which list they have been allocated. Once randomised the participant will be allocated an endoscopy appointment by the endoscopy booking team with the endoscopists in both arms of the study blinded to the participants involvement in the study. Both study sites have an established dedicated service, hence it will be possible to blind the endoscopists in both arms. In hospitals with a dedicated service it is not uncommon for Barrett's surveillance to be allocated onto different endoscopy lists due to timing and availability therefore this closely reflects normal practice.
Once the endoscopy has been completed the research team will access the report and the biopsy results to find the data for the clinical outcome measures. The research team will input retrieved data onto an anonymised clinical reference form which is marked only with the participant's unique study number. The participant will be made aware that the study team will access this information during the written consent. Each participant will have one endoscopy only and this will be the endoscopy which is already planned in their surveillance programme.
The participants will be provided with a questionnaire after their endoscopy to complete at home with which they will be given a stamped addressed envelope for ease of return. They will be advised to complete it at home away from the endoscopy unit and to avoid confounding proximity to their endoscopy. The study will just look at the differences between the questionnaire outcomes, the endoscopy report documentation, and the biopsy results. The participant's ongoing follow-up and further surveillance will continue as normal after the study.
Intervention type
Procedure/Surgery
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial comparing a dedicated endoscopy service for Barrett's oesophagus versus current normal practice, measured using health-related quality of life questionnaire completed at 6 weeks post endoscopic surveillance and histological outcomes of endoscopy (no dysplasia, intestinal metaplasia, low-grade dysplasia, or high-grade dysplasia) measured at either the time of dedicated surveillance endoscopy session (intervention arm) or at normally scheduled endoscopy session (control arm)
Secondary outcome measures
There are no secondary outcome measures
Overall trial start date
01/10/2019
Overall trial end date
01/01/2023
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Has the capacity to give informed consent
2. Aged >18 years old
3. Diagnosis of non-dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 100; UK Sample Size: 100
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Previous diagnosis of precancerous changes
2. Unable to understand written English to a standard at which they can understand the questionnaire
Recruitment start date
01/10/2020
Recruitment end date
01/10/2022
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Stott Lane
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
The Elms
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wigan Lane
Wigan
WN1 2NN
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Sponsor details
Salford Royal
Stott Lane
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1612065235
steve.woby@srft.nhs.uk
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Medtronic
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal by October 2023.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be stored in a non-publically available repository
Intention to publish date
31/10/2023
Participant level data
Stored in repository
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list