PLEASE NOTE THIS SEMINAR HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
At this seminar, we have two talks by Helena O’Flynn and Sarah McMullen.
Presentation 1: Understanding factors that influence symptom appraisal and help seeking behaviour in women with gynaecological symptoms
O’Flynn Helena, Archer S, Esmail A, Walter F, Crosbie E,
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the 4th most common cancer affecting British women, and its incidence is rising. Although EC tends to present early as postmenopausal bleeding (PMB), 20% of women are diagnosed at an advanced stage with a 5-year survival rate of just 15%. Delayed presentation risks progressive disease and may be partly responsible for advanced stage at diagnosis for some women with EC. With increases in incidence noted in the obese and elderly populations who are higher risk for radical surgery and medical treatments, increasing awareness and reducing delayed diagnosis could improve outcomes.
In a pilot study, we found that over a third of women with symptoms of womb cancer waited more than a month to see their GP. We also noted that nearly half of those with advanced disease had waited more than a month to see their GP.
Understanding why women delay seeing their GP will also help inform meaningful strategies to increase awareness in the future.
We want to understand the factors that influence the recognition of PMB as a red flag (symptom appraisal) in EC and understand the factors that influence when women with PMB seek medical attention (help seeking behaviour). We also want to establish if any delay in diagnosis impacts on outcome for women with EC.
We will use a multi-methods approach, including a questionnaire study of women recently diagnosed with EC and women with unexplained PMB referred for urgent investigation. A purposive sample will then be invited to participate in an in-depth qualitative semi-structured interview, in order to gain deeper understanding of the quantitative findings.
Presentation 2: Developing and feasibility testing of a culturally adapted intervention to improve cognitive functioning in British South Asians with Dementia”. Sarah McMullen
Introduction/Aim: The aim of the project is to develop and feasibility test a culturally adapted therapy to improve cognitive functioning in British South Asians with Dementia. The therapy will be selected between two therapies already available within the NHS and recommended by NICE: Reminiscence therapy and Cognitive Stimulation therapy. The ‘one size fits all’ approach of these therapies do not allow all individuals living with dementia to benefit from them. The selected therapy will be culturally adapted and will be tested to ensure its acceptability, implementation and appropriateness for British South Asians with Dementia.
Methods and Analysis: Focus groups and a consensus process meeting will run with lay Urdu speaking British South Asians, service providers and experts/researchers in the field to select and inform the development of the culturally adapted manual. A PPIE group with individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild Dementia will also be conducted. A feasibility study will be conducted with 25-32 Urdu speaking South Asian individuals with mild to moderate Dementia. As part of a feasibility study the intervention will be delivered over a 3 month period through a culturally competent therapist. The outcome measures will be completed at baseline, post intervention and follow up. Primary analyses will include descriptive data and further data will be collected on recruitment, attendance and retention. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with participants to understand and explore the acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention.
