RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Shared Care Thyroid Cancer Follow-up Utilizing Thyroid Cancer Assessment Reminder System (TCARS) Study - A Pilot Study.

This study is testing a new way for people with a certain type of low-risk thyroid cancer to get their ongoing care. Currently, this lifelong follow-up is often handled by specialist clinics, which are getting very busy. The study wants to see if sharing this care between you, your local GP, and the specialist team works better. It uses a special online reminder system to help everyone stay on track with appointments and advice. This approach aims to make care more convenient for patients and free up specialist time, while making sure any concerns are quickly spotted and sent to the experts. The study will also compare this new shared-care approach with the usual specialist-only follow-up to see which is preferred and more effective.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Enrolment target

Start

30 Sep 2022

Estimated completion

30 Dec 2025

Low Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

What is this study about?

When you have a type of thyroid cancer called 'differentiated thyroid cancer', even if it's considered low-risk, you need to have regular check-ups for many years. This is because there's a small chance the cancer could come back or cause other health problems. As more and more people are diagnosed with this cancer, specialist clinics are becoming very busy, making it harder for everyone to get all their follow-up directly from the experts.

This study explores a new approach called 'shared care'. This means your follow-up care would involve you, your local doctor (GP), and the hospital specialist team working together. To help everyone stay connected and remember important check-ups, the study is using a special online system called TCARS. This system will send reminders about appointments and offer guidance. If there's ever a concern about the cancer returning, the system will also help you get an urgent appointment with a specialist.

The main goal is to find out if this shared-care model is practical and works well for everyone involved. The study will also compare it to the current way of doing things, where specialists handle all the follow-up. They'll look at things like how often people go to their appointments, how happy patients and doctors are with the care, and if local doctors feel more confident helping patients with their thyroid cancer after being part of this system.

Key takeaways

Tests a new 'shared care' approach for thyroid cancer follow-up.
Uses a digital reminder system to connect patients, GPs, and specialists.
Compares this new way to standard specialist-only care.
Aims for more convenient and efficient ongoing support.
Focuses on low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 or over who have a specific type of low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer. To be included, you need to be a patient already getting follow-up care at the Halifax Interdisciplinary Thyroid Oncology Clinic (ITOC).

There are also some important medical checks. For example, your cancer needs to be at a certain stage (AJCC stage 1 or 2), and recent tests like blood tests and ultrasound scans must show no signs of the cancer remaining or having come back. This generally means your thyroglobulin (a specific protein) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels should be very low or undetectable, and your neck ultrasound should be clear at least 2 to 4 years after your last treatment.

Finally, because this study uses an online reminder system, you must be comfortable using a mobile app or a computer program called Medable and have reliable access to the internet. You also need to have a local doctor (PCP or GP) who has agreed to be part of your care for the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an adult aged 18 or older?
Do you have low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer?
Are you currently being followed at the Halifax Interdisciplinary Thyroid Oncology Clinic?
Do your recent medical tests (blood, ultrasound) show no signs of cancer?
Are you comfortable using a mobile app/online system and have internet access?
Do you have a personal doctor (GP/PCP) who can be part of this study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be put into one of two groups: either the 'shared-care' group or the 'standard specialist care' group. This will be decided randomly, like flipping a coin. Both groups will have 30 patients each.

If you're in the shared-care group, your follow-up will involve you, your local GP, and the specialist team. You'll use an online reminder system (TCARS) to help manage your appointments and communicate. If you're in the standard specialist care group, your follow-up will continue as it currently does, primarily with the specialist team.

The study will compare how well appointments are kept, how satisfied patients and doctors are, and if GPs feel more confident after the study. The total duration of your participation will be confirmed by the study team, but it involves ongoing follow-up as is usual for your condition.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer the benefit of a more coordinated care approach, potentially leading to more convenient follow-up appointments and faster access to specialists if concerns arise. Some people might find the use of the digital reminder system helpful in managing their health. As with any study, there's always a chance that the new system might not suit everyone, or there could be slight adjustments to your routine appointments. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Nova Scotia Health
Verified postcode
Halifax, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer'?

It's a common type of thyroid cancer that usually has a very good outlook and is unlikely to spread or cause serious problems, especially after treatment.

What does 'shared care' mean in this study?

It means your ongoing check-ups would involve your local doctor (GP) working with the hospital specialists, with you at the center, rather than just the specialists.

What is the TCARS system?

TCARS is an online reminder system (like an app) that will help you, your GP, and specialists keep track of appointments and important health information for your thyroid cancer follow-up.

Will my treatment change if I join this study?

No, this study is about how your follow-up care is managed, not about changing your thyroid cancer treatment itself.

What if I don't have a GP?

To join this study, you need to have a local doctor (PCP) who has agreed to be part of your care because 'shared care' involves them.

How to find out more

Syed A. Imran, Dr.

ali.imran@nshealth.ca 902-473-2952 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.