A study investigating the use of web-based video consultations in patients receiving lifelong treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia.
Tin Wai Terry Ng, University College of London Hospital
This project is funded through the BOPA-PRUK Research Award.
Background
For cancer patients, travelling to their hospital appointments can be difficult because their treatment can make them feel tired and unwell. It can also be very expensive for them. If patients miss their appointments, it costs the NHS money and may affect their treatment outcome and make their condition harder to manage. If patients are able to have their check-ups (follow-up appointments) with their medical team without having to go to the hospital, this could help improve the patient experience and outcomes, as well as helping the NHS run more effectively.
Aims and objectives
The project aims to find out if patients who are receiving treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) at University College Hospital (UCLH), London, UK, would find it acceptable to have their follow-up appointments using web-based video calling by
- asking for patient opinions about the current follow-up consultation model provided at UCLH for patients receiving treatment for CML.
- finding out from patients receiving treatment for CML what they feel they need at follow-up consultations.
- finding out how web-based video consultations between a patient and a doctor/nurse or other healthcare professional are currently being used in other areas of healthcare.
- suggesting (an) alternative model(s) for remote follow-up consultations using web-based technology.
Methods
Following ethical approval, a literature review will be carried out to identify any existing or past work relating to web-based video consultations. This information will be used to develop a model or models where follow-up consultations can be carried out using web-based video software.
The model will then be presented to
- A focus (discussion) group made up of 8-12 patients with CML.
- 8-12 patients with CML in individual interviews
Patients taking part will also complete a questionnaire to ask their opinion about the current model of follow-up consultations.
Patients will be at least 18 years old, and will have received treatment for CML for at least 12 months. They will have consented to take part. Patients will be identified with the support of Bloodwise, CML Support; other agreeable CML patient support groups and the UCLH CML Clinic team.
How the results of the research will be used
The results will inform the UCLH Pharmacy Oncology Team as to whether further work in this area needs to be carried out, either within UCLH, or on a wider scale through the London Cancer Chemotherapy Expert Review Group and the Haematology Pathway Board.
Future work could include examining whether web-based video consultations:
- are acceptable to healthcare professionals
- are acceptable to patients with other tumour types
- are feasible and run a small study to see if they are effective
The results will be shared through national conferences such as the British Oncology Pharmacy Association’s (BOPA) Annual Symposium and Health Services Research & Pharmacy Practice Conference.
The project will start in January 2018 and is due to finish in January 2019.
