title: A multicentre non-blinded randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of regular early specialist symptom control treatment on quality of life in malignant mesothelioma (RESPECT-MESO): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an incurable cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The United Kingdom has the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the world and this figure is increasing. Median survival is 8 to 12 months, and most patients have symptoms at diagnosis. The fittest patients may be offered chemotherapy with palliative intent. For patients not fit for systemic anticancer treatment, best supportive care remains the mainstay of management. A study from the United States examining advanced lung cancer showed that early specialist palliative care input improved patient health related quality of life and depression symptoms 12 weeks after diagnosis. While mesothelioma and advanced lung cancer share many symptoms and have a poor prognosis, oncology and palliative care services in the United Kingdom, and many other countries, vary considerably compared to the United States. The aim of this trial is to assess whether regular early symptom control treatment provided by palliative care specialists can improve health related quality of life in patients newly diagnosed with mesothelioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multicentre study is an non-blinded, randomised controlled, parallel group trial. A total of 174 patients with a new diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma will be minimised with a random element in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 4 weekly regular early specialist symptom control care, or standard care. The primary outcome is health related quality of life for patients at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include health related quality of life for patients at 24 weeks, carer health related quality of life at 12 and 24 weeks, patient and carer mood at 12 and 24 weeks, overall survival and analysis of healthcare utilisation and cost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current practice in the United Kingdom is to involve specialist palliative care towards the final weeks or months of a life-limiting illness. This study aims to investigate whether early, regular specialist care input can result in significant health related quality of life gains for patients with mesothelioma and if this change in treatment model is cost-effective. The results will be widely applicable to many institutions and patients both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current controlled trials ISRCTN18955704. Date ISRCTN assigned: 31 January 2014.
authors.affiliation: RESPECT Meso trial co-ordinator, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth, England. drsgunatilake@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunatilake
authors.forename: Fraser J H
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Brims
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fogg
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maskell
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Najib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Reuben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ogollah
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerry
authors.forename: Mick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peake
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Darlison
authors.forename: Anoop J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chauhan
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom