Source: www.statnews.com Patrick Semansky/AP
The study looks at individual men’s experience of male breast cancer over time and consists of three stages. All participants will be asked to take part in a 1:1 interview that takes place with the researcher in their own home or other agreed place. Some participants will be asked if they would like to be re interviewed at two further dates to discuss their experiences in the longer term. All participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any stage without being asked why. Choosing to take part, or not to take part is your choice and will not affect any aspect of your medical treatment or care at any stage.
How the study is conducted
The study looks at individual men’s experience of male breast cancer over time
The study consists of three interview stages. All voluntary participants take part in stage 1 interviews.
By taking part in stage 1 interviews, you are not under any obligation to take part in stages 2 & 3 interviews.
All participants will be asked to take part in a 1:1 interview that takes place with the researcher in their own home or other agreed place*. Some participants will be asked if they would like to be re interviewed at two further dates to discuss their experiences in the longer term. All participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any stage without being asked why.
* NB: Due to the COVID-19 situation, for the foreseeable future, all stages of interviews will be conducted online.
Interview. stages
Stage 1 : The first part of the study will consist of a 1:1 interview with the researcher and will last approximately one hour. Where possible, this will take place within a six- month period approximately after your first diagnosis. Some participants may be awaiting surgery or have completed surgery, whilst others may be awaiting or have undergone cycles of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The researcher will begin by gathering a few personal details (name, age, occupation, stage of cancer and ongoing treatment). This information will be stored securely and separately from the recorded interview to help preserve your anonymity. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions or address any concerns before the interview begins. You will be asked to sign a consent form. When this has been completed, the researcher will then ask your permission to begin recording the interview. You will NOT be filmed or photographed.
After the interview finishes, the researcher will contact you the next day to check on your well-being. The researcher will check that all recorded interview data is anonymised (For example: Participant 1, Participant 2) and written up into a transcript. For convenience, the researcher may use a professional audio typist to write up anonymised data- they will not have access to any of your personal details and identifiers. Only the researcher will know which recorded data and written transcript belongs to you.
When all of the interviews have taken place and been written up, some participants will then be asked to take part in two further interviews in order to explore how they experience male breast cancer in the longer term.
N.B. Not all stage 1 participants will be asked to take part in stages 2 and 3 interviews.
By taking part in stage 1 interviews, you are not under any obligation to take part in stages 2 & 3 interviews.
Stage 2 : A second interview will take place after initial cycles of radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been completed and approximately one month before your first follow-up screening is due to take place. This interview will last for approximately one hour. It will observe all the protocols for interviewing and data handling set out in the stage 1 interview. By consenting to take part in this interview stage, you are giving consent to your information being gathered, anonymised, written up and used as stipulated in stage 1 interviews.
Stage 3 : A third interview will take place within six months to one year after your second interview and will last approximately one hour. It will observe the same interview and data handling protocols as stages 1 & 2 interviews. By consenting to take part in this interview stage, you are giving consent to your information being gathered, anonymised, written up and used as stipulated in stage 1 interviews.
If I agree to take part, how long will I be needed for?
The three interviews will be conducted at six -monthly intervals approximately. If you are keen to participate, but feel that you need more time to recuperate from treatment, the research team will agree an interview time with you.
- Stage 1 – If you choose to take part in stage 1 only, then you will be required to meet with the researcher just once and the interview will last approximately 1 hour.
- Stages 1,2,3 – If you are selected and agree to take part in stages 1, 2 and 3 interviews, then in total, your participation time is approximately 18 months. This period involves 3 interviews, each one being carried out at six-monthly intervals. Each interview will last approximately 1 hour. N.B. Should you wish to withdraw after your stage 2 interview, you may do so without having to offer explanation.
