Title: Exploring the cost effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for people living with cancer and their carers
Funder: Tenovus Cancer Care

Abstract: People living with cancer and their families often feel distress, given the impact of diagnosis, uncertain survival and effects of treatment. The challenge of managing the psychological adjustment can cause cancer patients to be prone to anxiety and depression. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a psychosocial approach taught in a group context over eight sessions which supports the development of psychological resilience. There is robust evidence that MBCT significantly reduces the risk of depression recurrence and has been recommended by NICE as a depression prevention approach for people who are prone to depression. Based on this evidence, in North Wales, the mindfulness approach has been adapted specifically to support people living with cancer and their carers.This PhD project will build on pilot data from an NHS service evaluation, showing the potential effectiveness of MBCT for people living with cancer and their carers. Resources in the NHS for cancer care, as for all other services, are limited. What is not known is whether MBCT, when delivered as part of usual NHS cancer care, is cost-effective.This PhD project will use current published evidence, pilot evidence from North Wales specific to cancer care, and will gather more evidence using quantitative and qualitative methods, to build and populate an economic model in order to explore the cost-effectiveness of MBCT in cancer care. Specifically, the PhD student will, through a four paper based PhD framework; gain skills and experience in systematic literature reviewing; learn to build an economic model; undertake a pilot study to measure health related quality of life in 30 patients living with cancer and their carers, before and after attending the MBCT course as part of their cancer care in North Wales; and undertake qualitative interviews with 12 patients and their carers to learn more about their experience of MBCT; and undertake qualitative interviews with the teachers delivering MBCT and the clinical staff referring patients to the course to learn about their experiences and perspectives. A Tenovus PhD student will be well supported at Bangor University by co-supervisors with expertise in health economics and mindfulness-based clinical teaching and practice. The student will be supported by a wider advisory team (collaborators on this bid), with expertise in oncology, clinical psychology and medical statistics. Bangor University is well placed to host this studentship, offering the student a lively academic environment; day to day interaction with researchers and PhD students at the Bangor Health Economics Unit and staff at the Bangor Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (who share a building). The student will gain experience of MBCT as part of cancer care at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and will have wider opportunities to interact with other PhD students and senior researchers in the field of health economics across Wales. We anticipate this PhD studentship leading to post-doctoral research, offering the student a spring board to a career in health economics and cancer care.


Research activity codes: 5.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS