People living with cancer in Wales urged to take part in pandemic cancer support study

People with cancer in Wales are being invited to take part in a study that will explore their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its aim is to understand what psychosocial support they have been able to access and what further support they need.

The study is being conducted by Zoe Cooke, a KESS2 funded PhD student in the Psychology and Counselling department at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in Swansea, in collaboration with cancer charity Tenovus Cancer Care. The study is part of Zoe’s PhD and will be used by Tenovus and other cancer support organisations to inform the support they provide in the future.

People can take part in the study in two ways: by filling in an online survey and/or by being interviewed by Zoe to give a more in-depth insight into their experiences.

The project came from Zoe’s ongoing work with Tenovus Cancer Care to develop an effective psychosocial evaluation toolkit to help better understand how their services are helping people affected by cancer. With the onset of Covid-19, Zoe and Tenovus Cancer Care spotted an opportunity to understand and improve the experiences of people living with cancer during a pandemic.

Zoe has collaborated with the Applied Computing department at the university and software company Vindico to develop the data visualisation interface for the evaluation toolkit, which contributes to the commercial element of her KESS funded PhD research.

She said: “I’m keen to encourage individuals who have been living with cancer, in Wales, during the pandemic, to get involved and share their experiences so that we can use this information to help others.”

Zoe said she wanted to thank the Psychology and Counselling and Applied Computing departments at UWTSD, as well as Vindico and Tenovus Cancer Care for their support with the project and its ongoing challenges throughout the pandemic.

“I’d also like to say a special thank you to my supervisor Dr Ceri Phelps,” added Zoe. “Doing a PhD in a pandemic has had its challenges and her passion for this area of research has filtered through to me over the years. Without her support I don’t think I would be doing so well or have found a way to use the pandemic to find further support for people with cancer.

Zoe’s supervisor Dr Ceri Phelps, Director of Psychology & Counselling at UWTSD and registered Health Psychologist added: "It is great to have the opportunity to work with Tenovus and help utilise Zoe’s PhD as a means of helping identify how best to support the many people struggling with the additional challenges of living with cancer in Wales during the current pandemic.”

Dr Tim Banks, Insight Lead, from Tenovus Cancer Care said:"COVID-19 has had a massive impact on many charities. In cancer, the need for support services has never been greater at the very moment income has been severely curtailed due to restrictions on fundraising activity. We are so grateful to Zoe who has been able to adapt her PhD, working hard to ensure it has even greater impact to inform us as we rebuild, adjust, and develop following the ongoing effects of the pandemic. We very much encourage people to take part and have their say.”

The online survey is here: here is the link to the online survey https://uwtsdyrathrofa.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Lxn96pCMbWSSzj

Anyone willing to be interviewed can contact Zoe by emailing: zoe.cooke@uwtsd.ac.uk

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk