Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute Physiotherapist awarded Emerging Clinician Scientist Award by the Health Research Board

Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute Physiotherapist awarded Emerging Clinician Scientist Award by the Health Research Board

Dr. Gráinne Sheill, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Cancer Rehabilitation, TSJCI and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin, has been awarded an Emerging Clinician Scientist Award by the Health Research Board. The overarching aim of the ECSA awards is to support talented health and social care practitioners to become independent investigators while retaining their clinical or social care practice in the Irish health services. The award entitled ‘Towards an evidence based and stakeholder informed model of rehabilitation for people with haematological cancer’ will focus on translating knowledge generated through research into the health care system.

Many people with haematological (blood and lymphatic) cancer undergo a haematological stem cell transplant (HSCT). HSCT replaces damaged blood cells with healthy ones and often involves high doses of chemotherapy. Patients who receive a HSCT can experience numerous weakening side-effects, such as decreased physical performance, which negatively impact on their quality of life. Rehabilitation is widely promoted in cancer care to enhance outcomes and lessen the negative impact of treatment; however it is unclear how rehabilitation is best provided to support patients receiving intense treatments like HSCT.

This study involves three work packages. Work Package 1 will combine the results of published studies where patients describe their experience of undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The findings of individual studies will be drawn together to give greater understanding of the rehabilitation needs of patients undergoing HSCT. Work Package 2 will evaluate the effects of treatment on physical health. Patients will complete tests examining physical performance and questionnaires capturing patient-reported outcomes at regular intervals throughout their treatment journey (from diagnosis up to 1-year after transplant). This study will also explore if patient characteristics (e.g. fitness, age) can affect outcomes (how that person tolerates cancer treatment). Work Package 3 will use experience-based co-design to develop a rehabilitation intervention that meets the needs of patients undergoing HSCT. Experience-based co-design is a method for helping patients and clinicians work together to improve healthcare services. Patients, carers and staff will be invited to attend interviews and codesign sessions. Together, this study will determine the impact of treatment on the physical performance of patients undergoing HSCT and develop a rehabilitation programme to address patient’s needs. Dr Sheill will be mentored by Prof Rose Galvin, University of Limerick and Dr Emer Guinan, Trinity College Dublin.

For further information, contact Dr Gráinne Sheill (grasheill@stjames.ie)