Creating patient-centred infrastructures to enhance informed consent and improve patient experience of radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers (GRACE)

Research summary

Consent for radiotherapy treatment for cancer takes place in emotional circumstances, often focusing on cure or extending life. The impact of treatment on the quality of life after cancer is less regularly discussed. Previous research conducted by the project team revealed that some patients said they didn’t fully understand what their treatment would involve. Some felt unprepared for the impacts on life afterwards. The aim of this study is to improve how people make decisions about consent for radiotherapy for gynaecological (gynae) cancer. We will achieve this through overlapping research activities, and the project will be overseen by a patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) panel. Interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders (patients, carers & healthcare professionals) will explore experiences of consent and decision-making for radiotherapy for gynae cancer. Insights from these conversations will support stakeholders in co-design workshops to develop new policies, procedures and resources (infrastructures) to support decision-making and consent processes. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment survey, we will explore the trade-offs patients are willing to make between benefit and risk, to better understand which benefits and side effects are most important to patients in the long run. This will be pilot tested before being shared more widely online to find out what people value when it comes to these tough decisions. We will survey healthcare professionals in radiotherapy services to understand the resources currently used in consent processes for gynae-radiotherapy. Results from surveys will support the co-creation of new policies and resources which will be developed with stakeholders in co-design workshops. Drawing on the above activities, co-design workshops with key stakeholders will develop new, clearer ways for consenting to radiotherapy. This will include new policies, procedures, and resources to support decision-making. Finally, we’ll test the resources and evaluate the cost of using them in practice.

Principal Investigator

Loryn Caulfield

Contact us

Email: latephaseoncology@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

331369