Improving Knowledge
Improving and Applying our Knowledge about Consequences of Treatment
Information is not routinely collected about the consequences of cancer treatment, so it is difficult to show how many people are affected and the nature and severity of the problems they have. This information will be used to predict what services will be needed in the future.
We are working to improve our knowledge through the following projects:
- Defining Cancer Survivorship using Clinical Attendance Patterns
The Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) system holds information on why a patient visits a hospital and how often. These three projects are using HES data to see if there are particular patterns or events that can predict the likelihood of a patient having consequences of their treatment. This information will help clinicians identify patients most at risk of consequences of treatment and plan which services will be needed.
Colorectal and Haematological Cancers: In this project the HES records of patients diagnosed in 2001 will be analysed for the 12 months before diagnosis and for up to six years after.
Cervical cancer: This project will analyse HES records for a group of women who had consequences of treatment against a group who had none. The data will be analysed for up to six years after diagnosis.
Anal cancer: This project is analysing HES records for patients with anal cancer up to six years after diagnosis.
- Assessing the Needs of Long Term Survivors following Pelvic Radiotherapy
This project is looking at the unmet health and support needs of survivors with consequences of pelvic radiotherapy treatment. Data for patients with seven different pelvic tumours will be collected using Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaires and interviews.
- Use of Primary Care Services (GPs) and Unmet Needs
This project is using GP and HES records of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer survivors to see how they are cared for in the five years following treatment. This project will also include data held by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN).
- Patient Reported Outcomes at the Christie Hospital
Currently, factors predicting the likelihood, severity and timing of consequences of cancer treatment are poorly understood. Information has been collected about women with cervical cancer attending the Christie hospital for radiotherapy using patient reported outcomes and clinician reported outcomes over a period of five years or more. This data was analysed to generate hypotheses that might be tested on a larger population.
- Electronic Patient Reported Outcomes from Cancer Survivors
This project is using online technology and PRO questionnaires to simplify the way patient’s health and wellbeing is monitored following treatment and make it easier to gather data in the future.
- Managing the Transition from Children’s to Adult’s care of Hodgkin’s Disease
This project is comparing models of care for people diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease as children to those of people diagnosed as adults. The aim is to improve the transition of Hodgkin’s disease patients from young people’s care to adult’s care to ensure they receive the services they need.
Last updated on December 17, 2012