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Improving the implementation and reach of self-management support in Cancer Care

This PhD research project is being led by Nickola Pallin (https://www.ucc.ie/en/publichealth/people/estaff/msnickolapallin/) and is funded by the Health Research Board SPHeRE/2013/1 award. The project is supervised by Prof John Browne, Dr. Sheena McHugh and Prof Roisin Connolly http://research.ucc.ie/profiles/C002/roisin.connolly%40ucc.ie).

Why are we doing this research?

Self-management support programmes help people learn more about their condition and monitor symptoms. Solve problems and make plans to manage their lifestyle as well as set goals. Individuals supported to self-manage can have improved quality of life, however implementation of these programmes is a challenge. The overall aim of this research is to find out how to implement self-management support programmes in a way that is acceptable and practical in cancer care.  

What is involved?

The project will consist of a number of work packages. 

 

  1. Evaluating the current implementation of self-management support programmes in cancer care and evaluating the implementation needs. (We are interviewing staff involved in delivering self-management support to identify barriers and enablers to implementation. We will also interview people living with and beyond cancer to identify their barriers and enablers to taking part in these programmes).
  2. The findings from work package 1 will help us better understand where gaps lie and what solutions (implementation strategies) are needed. Working with key partners (health professionals and those living with and beyond cancer) will develop a strategy to assist the implementation and uptake of these programmes.  
  3. This strategy will then be evaluated to assess the feasibility of supporting the implementation of self-management support in the in the cancer setting.  

 

Cancer Survivorship Project Outputs

Publications:

  • Pallin, N.D., McHugh, S.M., Carvalho, M., Hegarty, J., Connolly, R.M., Browne, J.P. Enablers and barriers to accessing self‐management support services for those living with and beyond cancer: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework in Psycho-Oncology. Psycho-Oncology. 2023;1–9. http://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6254

Presentations:

  • 6th UK and Ireland Implementation Science Research Conference. Univeristy of Limerick, Ireland. (Oral poster presentation) 'Barriers and enablers to participating in self-management support among those living with and beyond cancer: a qualitative study informed by the TDF and COM-B.' Presenter: Nickola PAllin. 14 July 2023 
  • 6th UK and Ireland Implementation Science Research Conference. Univeristy of Limerick, Ireland. (Oral poster presentation) 'What is needed to implement self-management support (SMS) in cancer care delivery? A qualitative study of SMS implementation in Ireland' Presenter: Nickola Pallin. 14 July 2023
  • Implementation Research Scientific Conference. Bilbao, Spain. (Oral presentation) “Understanding determinants of implementing self-management support in cancer services: a practical application of theory to guide tailoring of strategies”. Presenter: Nickola Pallin. 12 June 2023
  • European Implementation Event 2023. Basel, Switzerland (Oral presentation) “Understanding implementation of self-management support in cancer services: a practical application of theory”. Presenter: Nickola Pallin. 9 June 2023.
  • 15th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health. Washington DC, USA (Poster presentation) “Factors influencing reach of self-management support in cancer services: a cross case qualitative study using the consolidated framework for implementation research”. Presenter: Nickola Pallin. 12 December 2022. 
  • 12th International Cancer Conference. Trinity Biomedical Sciences InstituteDublin. (Poster presentation) “Implementation of self-management support in cancer services: a multiple case study”. Presenter: Nickola Pallin. 13-14 October 2022
  • UCC College of Medicine and Health Conference ‘From molecules to people’. Cork (Poster presentation) “Understanding implementation of self-management support in cancer services: a multiple case study of the factors influencing implementation”. Presenter: Nickola Pallin. 22 September 2022. 

Contact details

For further information on this project please contact Nickola Pallin, School of Public Health, University College Cork at npallin@ucc.ie

 

 

Health Implementation Research Hub

School of Public Health, Western Gateway Building, T12 XF62,

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