The FOCCUS study: a prospective evaluation of the frequency, severity and treatable causes of gastrointestinal symptoms during and after chemotherapy.

Background: The underlying mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are poorly researched. This study characterised the nature, frequency, severity and treatable causes for GI symptoms prospectively in patients undergoing chemotherapy for GI malignancy.

Methods: Patients receiving chemotherapy for a GI malignancy were assessed pre-chemotherapy, then monthly for 1 year using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, a validated patient-reported outcome measure.

Reflective practice applied in a clinical oncology research setting.

Unlabelled: Regular reflective practice group sessions, focusing on enhancing mindfulness, were piloted as part of a support programme for researchers in a clinical oncology setting.

Methods: As a previous systematic review highlighted a wide variety of approaches and a lack of published evidence on the use of specific models for reflective practice in health care, a scoping review of existing literature describing reflective practice models preceded piloting the programme with the research team. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was used to assess the benefit for participants.