title: Cancer and serious mental illness--patient, caregiver and professional perspectives: study protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experience of serious mental illness and cancer from the perspective of patients, significant others and healthcare professionals involved in their care.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Serious mental illness is associated with poorer cancer outcomes. Those suffering from this comorbidity receive fewer specialist interventions and die earlier than the general population. Prior qualitative research in this area has comprised of a single study focussing on healthcare professionals and there is little evidence regarding the experiences of patients and caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative exploration using approximately 36 semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured digitally recorded interviews conducted with: adults living with serious mental illness and diagnosed with cancer; those providing them with informal support and care; and healthcare professionals. Questions will focus on the experience of having cancer and serious mental illness or caring for someone with this comorbidity, experiences of healthcare and priorities for patients and carers. Framework analysis will be used. Research Ethics Committee and Trust Research & Development approval was obtained. A steering group comprising six people with experience of either cancer or mental illness provided feedback and ratified the patient information sheets and interview schedules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a paucity of research addressing stakeholder perspectives on the experience of cancer and of cancer services for people with serious mental illness. Dissemination of findings will inform practice relating to the care of an often neglected population, informing better support for their significant others and the professionals involved in their care.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, QUB, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6041-6775
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millman
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, QUB, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Galway
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, QUB, UK.
authors.forename: Olinda
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Santin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, QUB, UK.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: cancer; comorbidity; multidisciplinary; nursing; nursing research; serious mental illness