COVID-19 cancer attitudes and behaviour study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN17782018 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17782018 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | Cardiff University |
| Funder | UK Research and Innovation |
- Submission date
- 21/07/2020
- Registration date
- 31/07/2020
- Last edited
- 30/12/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Cancer
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people may not be aware of the importance of seeking early medical help for signs of cancer or taking up screening, when available, to diagnose cancer sooner. In addition, some people may not want to be referred to a hospital for diagnostic tests due to fear of catching coronavirus in the healthcare setting. COVID-19 may also affect whether people take part in healthy behaviours that can reduce the chances of getting cancer. These factors may lead to more cancers occurring, and more cancers being diagnosed at a late stage when treatment may be less successful.
The researchers want to understand how people are thinking about getting help from doctors at the moment. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the numbers of people visiting their GP with potentially serious symptoms have reduced dramatically. The researchers are concerned that people may not be aware of the importance of seeking medical help if they notice any changes in their body or health. They also want to understand how coronavirus may affect whether people take part in health behaviours.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 18+ who live across the UK. The aim is to include adults from a range of different backgrounds including people from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background and those who live in disadvantaged communities as data suggests that they may have been more affected by coronavirus than other groups.
What does the study involve?
Working closely with Cancer Research UK, the researchers will carry out an online survey with at least 3,500 people to ask about any recent symptoms, cancer screening and health behaviours during the UK lockdown period. Survey questions will include the delay in visiting the GP with a range of possible cancer symptoms, attitudes to cancer screening and anxiety about seeking help in the current situation. Other barriers to seeking help will be explored together with health behaviours including smoking, alcohol, diet and physical activity. People will also be asked how they would prefer to receive public health information. Each survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. The researchers will ask people to provide some personal information (e.g. name, date of birth and address). They would like to use these details to be able to link peoples responses with routinely collected health service data which already exist (e.g. admissions to hospital or contact with your GP). They will also interview by telephone around 30 people who have taken part in the survey to understand their attitudes and behaviours in more detail. The survey and interviews will be repeated with the same people around six months later, to assess any changes in their views and information preferences.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There will be no direct advantages or benefits to people from taking part. However, THE participants' contribution will help the researchers to understand the impact of coronavirus on health and health behaviours. The results will help them work with the NHS, public health services and charities to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus in the future.
Where is the study run from?
Cardiff University (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2020 to March 2022
Who is funding the study?
UK Research and Innovation
Who is the main contact?
Yvonne Moriarty
MoriartyY@cardiff.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Centre for Trials Research
4th floor Neuadd Meirrionydd
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4YS
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7608-4699 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)2920687937 |
| moriartyy@cardiff.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Study design | Prospective mixed-methods cohort study |
| Secondary study design | Cohort study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | COVID-19 cancer attitudes and behaviour study: a prospective mixed-methods cohort study |
| Study acronym | CABS |
| Study objectives | To generate rapid evidence-based on public views/response, informing public health interventions to encourage timely symptom presentation, screening engagement and cancer-related health behaviours in the wake of the pandemic. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 29/07/2020, Cardiff University School of Medicine Ethics Committee (Cardiff University School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK; no telephone number provided; EvansCR9@cardiff.ac.uk), ref: none provided |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Cancer behaviour science in the general population |
| Intervention | Members of the public will be invited to complete an online survey to ask about any recent symptoms, cancer screening and health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey questions will include the delay in visiting the GP with a range of possible cancer symptoms, attitudes to cancer screening and anxiety about seeking help in the current situation. Other barriers to seeking help will be explored together with health behaviours including smoking, alcohol, diet and physical activity. People will also be asked how they would prefer to receive public health information. The researchers will also interview by telephone around 30 people who have taken part in the survey to understand their attitudes and behaviours in more detail. The survey and interviews will be repeated with the same people around 6 months later to assess any changes in their views and information preferences. Finally, the researchers will link the survey data with medical records available in Wales to assess the number of GP referrals and tests for suspected cancer symptoms, whether people have taken part in cancer screening, whether people who smoke have quit, and the number and stage of new cancers diagnosed. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Self-reported time to presentation in those who have experienced a potential cancer symptom measured using online survey at baseline and 6 months |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Anticipated time to presentation with hypothetical cancer symptoms measured using online survey at baseline and 6 months |
| Completion date | 31/03/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | All |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 3535 |
| Total final enrolment | 7543 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Members of the public are eligible to take part if they are: 1. Aged over 18 years 2. Living in the UK |
| Key exclusion criteria | Members of the public are not eligible to take part if they are non-English speakers |
| Date of first enrolment | 05/08/2020 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Wales
Study participating centre
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4YS
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | Cancer symptom experience and help-seeking behaviour | 16/09/2021 | 21/09/2021 | Yes | No |
| Results article | cancer screening intentions | 01/12/2021 | 30/12/2021 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
30/12/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 29/12/2021 to 31/03/2022 and the plain English summary updated accordingly.
21/09/2021: Publication reference added.
12/03/2021: The total final enrolment number has been added.
05/08/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The ethics approval was added.
2. The recruitment start date was changed from 04/08/2020 to 05/08/2020.
21/07/2020: Trial’s existence confirmed by Economic and Social Research Council
