Peer support – head and neck cancer
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN78570937 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78570937 |
| Sponsor | University of Liverpool |
| Funder | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
- Submission date
- 26/02/2026
- Registration date
- 27/02/2026
- Last edited
- 27/02/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Cancer
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
We aim to improve support services for people diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC). The number of people
treated for HNC is increasing. About a third have anxiety or depression (also known as emotional distress) which is
bad enough to require professional support. Emotional distress reduces quality of life and can make living with
symptoms of HNC worse. Many have long-term and complex difficulties with altered appearance, speaking, eating,
and drinking difficulties, leaving them very isolated.
Some people with HNC do not wish to engage with professional services to help reduce emotional distress. A wider
range of care and support must be available. Peer support is one option; it involves people with a similar condition
providing social, emotional, or practical support to others. This form of support has been beneficial in other cancer
groups. Peer support could improve mental health, provide access to help closer to home and reduce healthcare use.
Little is known about the best way to set up a peer support service. Multiple perspectives are required including HNC
patients, local and national healthcare providers, social care providers, and cancer charities. Developing a better
understanding of how to design and organise a peer support service is the primary aim of this project
Who can participate?
1. Head and neck cancer patients aged 18 years and over
2. Carers and relatives of head and neck cancer patients
3. Health and social care providers who are working in the NHS in HNC care provision
What does the study involve?
There are three interlinked studies.
Study 1. Interviews with HNC patients and carers/relatives of people with HNC. These interviews will focus on people's experience, knowledge and ideas about peer support.
Study 2. Interviews with health and social care providers who work with people with HNC. Interviews will focus on their experience, knowledge and attitudes about peer-to-peer support.
Study 3. A series of three workshops involving patients, carers/relatives, and health and social care professionals to bring together the information obtained in studies 1 and 2 to develop a peer-to-peer support service that could be evaluated in future research.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
We do not anticipate any major risks. It is possible that people may become upset when talking about your experiences. The researcher can direct you to further support and help if you need it. We hope this study will benefit future patients, health and social care professionals involved in peer support services. We cannot promise that anyone participating will benefit directly, but many people find that taking part in studies like this is useful because they can air their views and reflect on things.
Where is the study run from?
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is is it expected to run for?
October 2025 to September 2026
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Peter Fisher; plfisher@liverpool.ac.uk
Contact information
Public, Principal investigator, Scientific
Department of Primary Care and Mental Health
Institute of Population Health
Eleanor Rathbone Building
Liverpool
L69 7ZA
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7388-720X |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1517944160 |
| peter.fisher@liverpool.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Observational study design | Qualitative research; cross sectional study |
| Scientific title | Peer-to-peer support for people with head and neck cancer |
| Study acronym | HOPE HNC |
| Study objectives | This project aims to co-develop a prototype HNC peer support intervention for subsequent evaluation by: 1. Exploring patients’ and relatives’/carers’ perspectives on receiving and providing peer support across the patient journey 2. Exploring health and social care professionals’ perspectives on delivery of peer support 3. Synthesising this information, and co-creating a peer support intervention, for future testing |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 18/09/2025, West of Scotland REC 3 (West of Scotland Research Ethics Service, Admin Building, Level 2, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH, United Kingdom; +44 (0)207 104 8000; ggc.wosrec@nhs.scot), ref: 25/WS/0129 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Head and neck cancer |
| Intervention | This 16-month qualitative study has three interlinked studies, each of which contributes to the overall aim of developing a peer-to-peer support model. Study 1: patient and relatives'/carers' perspectives of peer-to-peer support We aim to recruit approximately 20 patients and 10 relatives/carers. Participants will be recruited via local NHS Trusts, existing Patient Research Forum contacts, and social media, e.g., local and national HNC charities and support groups. Participants will be interviewed about their experiences and views of peer-to-peer support. Interviews will last for approximately 45 minutes. Participants will be offered the option of remote (e.g., video calls, telephone calls or in-person interviews) at their preferred location depending upon their personal requirements. Study 2: healthcare and social care providers' perspectives of peer-to-peer support. We aim to recruit approximately 20 health and social care providers who will be recruited through adverts and an email sent by the PI at the study site, publicity campaigns, adverts through professional websites and forums, social media and newsletters. The Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRDA) contact details will be provided on all materials. Potential participants will be sent a participant information leaflet via post/email. Interviews with staff will be conducted either face-to-face or over the telephone/teleconference. Participants will be interviewed about their experiences and views of peer-to-peer support. Study 3: co-production workshops to develop the model of a peer-to-peer support intervention. Patients and family members, health and social care professionals who participated in the interviews, and advisory group members will be invited to participate in the co-design workshops. We aim to recruit approximately 30 participants. A series of three 3-4-hour workshops adapting the format and delivery for underserved HNC patient groups (e.g., those with speech difficulties) will be conducted. Feedback from the project management group and PPI group will inform the delivery and frequency of these workshops, which will remain flexible to need. Participatory methods will be used to empower and promote consensus-building for developing the prototype. Over the course of the three workshops, participants will consider the nature of peer support, what does good peer-to-peer support look like and how a peer support service might operate within the head and neck cancer treatment pathway Participants will begin to develop potential content and to consider ‘what does good peer-to-peer practice look like?’ and 'the group will be supported to develop the intervention, engaging with the potential solution(s) and corresponding materials (considering outputs/evaluation, timing and presentation of service, outcome measures, implementation mechanisms, and their flexibility according to context). Workshop 3: The group will examine the prototype solution, the need for any adaptations and provide final feedback. By the end of study 3, full consideration will be given to the potential barriers and facilitators to implementing the service and any corresponding materials. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) | |
| Completion date | 30/09/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 70 |
| Key inclusion criteria | HNC patients: 1. HNC patients who are considered medically stable by their clinical care team 2. Aged at least 18 years old 3. Have a sufficient written and spoken English to be able to participate in interviews, workshops and provide informed consent Relatives/carers of HNC patients: 1. Have supported an individual through a diagnosis of HNC and associated treatment 2. Aged at least 18 years old 3. Have sufficient written and spoken English to be able to participate in interviews, workshops and provide informed consent Healthcare and social care providers: 1. Involved in HNC care provision 2. Aged at least 18 years old |
| Key exclusion criteria | Patients: 1. Do not have capacity to provide informed consent Relatives/carers: 2. Do not have capacity to provide informed consent 3. Carers themselves who have a diagnosis of HNC Healthcare and social care providers: 4. Are not involved in HNC care provision |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/10/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 22/04/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Fazakerley Hospital
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7AL
England
University of Liverpool
Waterhouse Building, Block B
Brownlow Street
Liverpool
United Kingdom
Liverpool
L69 3GF
England
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan |
Editorial Notes
26/02/2026: Study's existence confirmed by West of Scotland REC 3.
