Why is this research question important?
Best supportive care for pancreatic cancer as well as lung, liver, brain, oesophageal and stomach cancers is dependent on understanding how individual patients cope with the challenges and how they maintain a good quality of life.
Dr Grigorios Kotronoulas and a team of researchers from the University of Glasgow and the European Oncology Nursing Society are hoping to understand what a “good day” is for people living with these cancers.
They can then promote these activities which may help patients have more “good days” but also they can advocate actions to encourage understanding such as communication courses for healthcare professionals or promoting more online activities.
What is the project?
The team plan to undertake interviews with people living with pancreatic cancer as well as lung, liver, brain, oesophageal and stomach cancers to ask what ‘a good day’ is in the life of a patient living with these cancers. They want to understand:
- what day-to-day activities, experiences and actions contribute to ‘a good day’
- what are the prerequisites and priorities for ‘a good day’
- what challenges and experiences might turn a good day into ‘a bad day’
- what changes in meaning attributed to a good/bad day from diagnosis to study participation
How could the outcomes of this project make a difference to people with pancreatic cancer?
With the results of the project the team will develop an action plan that will form the basis of future education initiatives and advocacy campaigns in collaboration with patient and european organisations.
They are hoping by understanding what a “good day” is for people living with these cancers they will be able to promote understanding and more actions that will allow more “good days”.
Review the project summary
Grigorios and the team would like to get your feedback on their project whilst it is in the early stages, they are looking for individuals to read a summary of the project and answer 6-10 short questions about the summary.
Project summary reviews consist of researchers asking for your insight on their project summary to ensure that the project is relevant to people affected by pancreatic cancer and are completed in written format. After reading the summary you answer the questions based on your personal experiences as someone affected by pancreatic cancer. Your comments are anonymised before sending to the researcher.
No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.
Join the project on the patient advisory group
Grigorios and the team are looking for one individual with a personal connection to pancreatic cancer to join their patient advisory group. Patient advisory groups (PAG) are a group of people affected by the condition that give feedback and advice on the project ensuring that lived experience perspectives are integrated into the decision making process.
The group will consist of up to six individuals each representing one of the cancers the project aims to understand to provide advice and direction throughout the life of the project.
What does the opportunity entail?
The project will run from March 2025 to March 2026 and the PAG will meet online every 3-4 months throughout the year as well as input via email. They are looking to hold the first meeting in April 2025.
Individuals in the patient advisory group will be reimbursed for their time.
No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.
Next steps
If you would like to review the project summary, join the patient advisory group or both or would simply like some further information on this opportunity, please contact the Research Team (research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘The Good Day Project’.
