Integration of quality of life outcomes into the decision making of older women with early breast cancer

ISRCTN ISRCTN51364541
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN51364541
IRAS number 293691
Secondary identifying numbers IRAS 293691, CPMS 48717
Submission date
27/05/2021
Registration date
01/06/2021
Last edited
18/10/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Breast cancer is a very common disease in older women, and over one third of cases are seen in women over the age of 70 years. A great deal of scientific research has been done to ensure that every woman with breast cancer receives the best treatment for her cancer. As women get older they value quality of life and independence as much as life expectancy, but at present there are no decision tools that provide enough information to help them weigh this up. A new online decision tool has been developed to meet the needs and wishes of older women, whose life priorities may differ from younger women. The aim of this study is to evaluate our new online decision tool, which can be used to support shared treatment decision making in older women with early breast cancer.

Who can participate?
Older women (aged over 70 years) who have been seen in breast clinic within the last 2 years, and healthcare professionals (oncologists, breast surgeons, consultants and breast nurses)

What does the study involve?
The researchers will be carrying out interviews and focus groups to discuss the importance of quality of life, physical activities and preferences for receiving treatment information. They may also ask participants to use the new online web tool and complete a questionnaire giving feedback on the decision tool.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no specific risks associated with taking part in the study, but participants may be inconvenienced in terms of the time taken to complete a questionnaire and take part in an interview or a focus group. In terms of benefits, the study result should help provide better support for people involved in making decisions about breast cancer treatments in the future.

Where is the study run from?
University of Sheffield (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2020 to April 2023

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Jenna Morgan
j.morgan@sheffield.ac.uk

Study website

Contact information

Dr Jenna Morgan
Public

Department of Oncology and Metabolism
The University of Sheffield Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-5337-5581
Phone +44 (0)1302644069
Email j.morgan@sheffield.ac.uk
Prof Lynda Wyld
Public

Department of Oncology and Metabolism
The University of Sheffield Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-4046-5940
Phone +44 (0)1302644069
Email l.wyld@sheffield.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulticentre mixed method study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designMixed method design
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet No participant information available
Scientific titleBridging the age gap: Integration of quality of life outcomes into the decision making of older women with early breast cancer
Study objectivesAs women get older, they value quality of life (QoL), physical function and independence as much as life expectancy. At present, no decision tools provide enough information to help them weigh this up. An online tool (Age Gap Decision Tool, https://agegap.shef.ac.uk/) has already been developed for older women with breast cancer, and this can calculate survival outcomes for women who have non-standard treatment. This study will explore what older women think about adding QoL and adverse event outcomes to the tool, explore how they feel QoL data should be best displayed to be understandable, add QoL outcomes into the tool and obtain feedback about whether older women feel this is useful in the clinical setting.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 14/05/2021, North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee (NHSBT Newcastle Blood Donor Centre, Holland Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NQ, UK; +44 (0)207 1048285; tyneandwearsouth.rec@hra.nhs.uk), REC ref: 21/NE/0072
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedQuality of life in older women with breast cancer
InterventionSemi-structured interviews, questionnaire completion and focus groups with older women (aged >70 years, seen in the breast clinic within the last 2 years); and health care professionals (breast clinic team, oncologists).
Intervention typeMixed
Primary outcome measurePatient and consultant feedback on the usability of the online web tool collected using a quantitative questionnaire at baseline
Secondary outcome measures1. Patients' and healthcare professionals' views on the importance of quality of life (QoL), adverse events (AE) and functional outcomes collected using semi-structured interviews at baseline
2. Patients' and healthcare professionals' preferences for visual display of QoL, physical function and AE outcomes collected using focus groups at baseline
Overall study start date01/11/2020
Completion date30/04/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Mixed
Age groupSenior
SexBoth
Target number of participants234 in total. Interviews (30 in Phase 1, 60 in Phase 4); Decision Tool Review with patients and clinicians (120 participants in Phase 4); Focus groups (24 participants in Phase 1)
Key inclusion criteria1. Older women (aged <70 years) diagnosed with early breast cancer within 2 years and documented to have discussed treatment options (surgery versus PET, types of surgery (mastectomy versus lumpectomy, axillary clearance or sentinel node biopsy) or chemotherapy or not)
2. Able to speak and read English
3. Able to give informed consent, and has capacity to take part in research
4. Older women (aged >70 years) attending breast clinic with benign pathology (such as breast pain, benign lumps) to reduce bias due to treatment experiences
5. Health care professionals (breast surgeons, oncologists, breast nurse specialists)
Key exclusion criteria1. Individuals who are unable to give informed consent to take part in the study
2. Individuals who cannot speak and read English
Date of first enrolment07/06/2021
Date of final enrolment30/04/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5LT
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

R&D Office
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5LT
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1302644069
Email amy.bell4@nhs.net
Website https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01yc93g67

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/04/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. The study protocol has not been published and the researchers do not have plans as yet to make it available online.
IPD sharing planThe 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?
HRA research summary 26/07/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

18/10/2022: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/10/2022 to 30/04/2023.
2. The overall end date was changed from 31/10/2022 to 30/04/2023.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/10/2023 to 30/04/2024.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
01/06/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.