Clinical trials

The goal of this study is the assess the use of remote monitoring of vital signs using commercially available medical devices in patients with advanced cancer admitted to a hospice inpatient unit for end-of-life care. The objectives of the study are: 1. could remote monitoring of vital signs improve patient care through the earlier identification of infections and other (potentially reversible) problems; 2. could remote monitoring of vital signs improve the accuracy of our estimates about how long a person has to live; and c) determine the relationship between complaints of pain / other symptoms and vital signs.

Digital health interventions, including remote monitoring of patients, have been identified as a possible way to address current problems within the health service, including insufficient numbers of staff, and an increasing number of patients requiring services. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of using remote monitoring for patients who are receiving palliative care and to see whether remote monitoring can improve care and outcomes for patients and their families. Participants in this study will complete regular (daily, weekly, monthly) questionnaires online about how they are feeling. They will also be given equipment to measure their vital signs every day. The clinical team will have access to the results and be able to respond to any new problems as they arise. Patients and their carers will then complete a questionnaire at one month to assess satisfaction with the use of remote monitoring.

The term '"cancer survivors" is widely used but has different definitions. One definition describes "cancer survivors" as individuals from the time of diagnosis throughout their lives, which includes people living with cancer and people free of cancer. The views of some groups included in this definition of "cancer survivors" have rarely been assessed, including those with cancer on anticancer treatment and those known to palliative care. How they view these terms could have important implications for how they receive care services. This is an international multi-centre observational study. It aims to recruit patients internationally across Ireland and the United Kingdom. Participants known to cancer and/or palliative care hospital or hospice services as inpatients, outpatients or community patients will be asked to complete a survey during a one-off visit which should last under 30 minutes. The survey asks a series of questions to determine the perceptions of patients know to cancer and palliative care services about the terminologies used to describe them.

Taste problems and xerostomia (dry mouth) are common among patients with advanced cancer. These symptoms can affect the pleasure of eating and drinking, reduce dietary intake, cause low mood, and a lower quality of life. This study will explore the relationship between dry mouth and taste problems in patients with advanced cancer.