title: A descriptive survey of cancer helplines in the United Kingdom: Who they are, the services offered, and the accessibility of those services.
abstract: There are more than 1500 UK health helplines in operation, yet we have scant knowledge about the resources in place to support the seeking and delivering of cancer-related telephone help and support. This research aimed to identify and describe cancer and cancer-related helpline service provision: the number of helplines available, the variety of services provided, and the accessibility of those services.
  
  
  
  This study used online national questionnaire survey sent to 95 cancer and cancer-related helplines in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  
  A total of 69 (73%) of 95 surveyed cancer and cancer-related helplines completed the survey. Most helplines/organizations were registered charities, supported by donations; 73.5% of helplines had national coverage. Most helplines served all age-groups, ethnic groups, and men and women. Only 13.4% had a number that was free from landlines and most mobile networks, and 56.6% could only be contacted during working hours. More than 50% of helplines reported no provisions for callers with additional needs, and 55% had no clinical staff available to callers. Ongoing support and training for helpline staff was available but variable.
  
  
  
  Although cancer helplines in the United Kingdom offer reasonably broad coverage across the country, there are still potential barriers to accessibility. There are also opportunities to optimize the training of staff/volunteers across the sector. There are further prospects for helplines to enhance services and sustain appropriate and realistic quality standards.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leydon
authors.affiliation: Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Danquah
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ekberg
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brindle
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latter
authors.affiliation: Psychology Research Group, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moynihan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.affiliation: The Helplines Partnership, Peterborough, UK.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: Social Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stokoe
authors.affiliation: Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: cancer; cancer information; cancer support; helplines; telemedicine