‘Improving outcomes for people living with neuropathic cancer pain’
Cancer nerve pain stops people from participating in society by causing worse physical, cognitive and social function. Even for those who see a doctor, cancer pain is inadequately controlled over half the time, as current evidence is not well used in practice. Half of all people in NSW will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85. Over two-thirds of people with advanced cancer experience pain. My research focuses on developing a strategy to enable people living with cancer, their carers and health providers to use proven methods to better manage cancer nerve pain.
This project will involve meeting with key people and organisations to affect health service change. Research will be conducted into the patient and carer experience of having poorly controlled cancer nerve pain and whether their care was evidence-based. Use of drug and non-drug methods will be explored. A clinical trial will be conducted to explore a promising treatment of lignocaine, a local anaesthetic, used as an infusion for cancer nerve pain. The project will use a national database with over 100,000 encounters to target interventions where greatest impact is expected.
Why did you decide to embark on your research degree at the Faculty of Health at UTS?
IMPACCT is currently the most dynamic and exciting palliative care research centre in Australia. The faculty comprises internationally recognised researchers in various areas who are supportive and generous with their expertise.
What contribution to knowledge are you planning to make with your research project? What impact will it have?
The findings of my research will be put into practice and shared with millions of Australians through the media, consumer organisations and government. Health professionals and administrators will be encouraged to take up the evidence based strategies through incorporation into national guidelines, presentations and changing the health service environment.
Who will benefit from your research? How?
People living with cancer and their carers will benefit from improvement in pain and the way that pain affects their life. They will benefit from access to proven strategies for reducing pain. Clinicians working with people with cancer will benefit from clearer guidance on how best to manage people with cancer nerve pain. Health services will benefit by being able to focus precious resources on practices with proven benefit. Finally, the community will benefit from improved resource utilisation and productivity of the Australian population.
How did you go about selecting your supervisor?
Professor Agar had been my clinical and research supervisor prior to commencing my PhD, so I knew that I would be able to work with her. She is a brilliant clinician and researcher, and her enthusiasm for improving patient care is contagious. Professor Agar provides me with the guidance I need to feel supported in undertaking quality research, as well as the freedom to develop as an independent researcher.
What has been the most valuable part of your research student experience at the Faculty of Health at UTS?
The highlights are my supervisory sessions and summer school. The opportunity to learn so many skills in different formats and from different people has been fabulous. There are workshops, didactic online and face to face learning and one-on-one sessions available. I can see very clearly how much my research skills have developed in such a short time.