By InvitationNot Applicable

Cancer in the Small Developing Island States of the Eastern Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada900 participantsStarted 2024-09-16

Plain-language summary

Caribbean studies examining overseas cancer care were lacking patient-level data. Investigators will collect data from patients by establishing a cohort of survivors across six small island developing states (SIDS) (Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent). This proposal is novel for the Caribbean, and it is the first step in identifying the critical performance gaps and leverage points in the process of overseas referral for cancer care. Investigators will compare for the first time, the characteristics and experiences of Caribbean cancer survivors in SIDS who seek care overseas to those who received care on-island. My overarching goal is to investigate the effects of overseas travel for care on patient-centered outcomes in Caribbean SIDS, and to build a research resource to study cancer survival, as I develop my career as an independent mixed-method investigator. Our primary aims are to (P1): Map patterns of overseas travel for cancer care among cancer survivors of six member states of the OECS and (P2): Explore the lived experience of cancer survivors and caregivers and how overseas travel for care affects their social support systems. Investigators anticipate that (H1) a substantial proportion of cancer survivors travel outside of their resident country for cancer. We expect certain destinations to be more frequented among cancer survivors by individual characteristics (cancer site, stage and country of residence). We also expect that (H2) overseas care may be associated with both challenges and adaptations in social support systems, as explored qualitatively through survivor and caregiver accounts.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Primary aim 1 (P1): We will include cancer survivors 18 years of age or older, able to communicate in English or local dialect (without cognitive impairment), with an invasive cancer diagnosis (any cancer site, histology, and year of diagnosis), and having accessed health services in their island of residence (i.e. Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent ) due to their cancer. Participation will include written authorization to access each patient's data from medical records in health care institutions and centers * Primary aim 2 (P2): For the qualitative segment of this proposal, field investigators across the 6 islands will purposefully identify cancer survivors and caregivers of survivors who (1) are receiving or already finished their initial active treatment at the time of the study, (2) received a treatment requiring the intervention of a medical professional (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), and (3) are willing to provide written consent for one-on-one interviews and/or focus group discussions. Exclusion Criteria: \-

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Destination country for cancer treatment

Timeframe: At inclusion (0 days)

Social support system

Timeframe: At inclusion (0 days)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07695116

SponsorVaughan A. Lewis Institute for Research and Innovation

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2028-08-15

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