BACKGROUND: Malignant @entity2615 is an incurable @entity5 caused by exposure to @entity1355 . The United Kingdom has the highest death rate from @entity2615 in the world and this figure is increasing. Median survival is 8 to 12 months, and most @entity1 have symptoms at diagnosis. The fittest @entity1 may be offered chemotherapy with palliative intent. For @entity1 not fit for systemic anticancer treatment, best supportive care remains the mainstay of management. A study from the United States examining @entity2 showed that early specialist palliative care input improved @entity1 health related quality of life and @entity308 symptoms 12 weeks after diagnosis. While @entity2615 and @entity2 share many symptoms and have a poor prognosis, oncology and palliative care services in the United Kingdom, and many other countries, vary considerably compared to the United States. The aim of this trial is to assess whether regular early symptom control treatment provided by palliative care specialists can improve health related quality of life in @entity1 newly diagnosed with @entity2615 . METHODS: This multicentre study is an non-blinded, randomised controlled, parallel group trial. A total of 174 @entity1 with a new diagnosis of @entity3620 will be minimised with a random element in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 4 weekly regular early specialist symptom control care, or standard care. The primary outcome is health related quality of life for @entity1 at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include health related quality of life for @entity1 at 24 weeks, carer health related quality of life at 12 and 24 weeks, @entity1 and carer mood at 12 and 24 weeks, overall survival and analysis of healthcare utilisation and cost. DISCUSSION: Current practice in the United Kingdom is to involve specialist palliative care towards the final weeks or months of a life-limiting illness. This study aims to investigate whether early, regular specialist care input can result in significant health related quality of life gains for @entity1 with @entity2615 and if this change in treatment model is cost-effective. The results will be widely applicable to many institutions and @entity1 both in the United Kingdom and internationally. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials ISRCTN18955704. Date ISRCTN assigned: 31 January 2014.

A multicentre non-blinded randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of regular early specialist symptom control treatment on quality of life in XXXX (RESPECT-MESO): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depression'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer'] @entity2 :: ('MESH:D008175', 'Disease') :: ['advanced lung cancer'] @entity2615 :: ('MESH:D008654', 'Disease') :: ['pleural mesothelioma', 'mesothelioma'] @entity3620 :: ('MESH:C562839', 'Disease') :: ['malignant pleural mesothelioma'] @entity1355 :: ('MESH:D001195', 'Disease') :: ['asbestos']
@entity3620 :: (MESH:C562839,Disease) :: ['malignant mesothelioma']
