Cancer in the Small Developing Island States of the Eastern Caribbean

NCT07695116 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: A10-M79-24A
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 900
• Locations: 4 countries
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

Caribbean studies examining overseas cancer care were lacking patient-level data. Investigators will collect data from patients by establishing a cohort of survivors across six small island developing states (SIDS) (Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent). This proposal is novel for the Caribbean, and it is the first step in identifying the critical performance gaps and leverage points in the process of overseas referral for cancer care. Investigators will compare for the first time, the characteristics and experiences of Caribbean cancer survivors in SIDS who seek care overseas to those who received care on-island. My overarching goal is to investigate the effects of overseas travel for care on patient-centered outcomes in Caribbean SIDS, and to build a research resource to study cancer survival, as I develop my career as an independent mixed-method investigator. Our primary aims are to (P1): Map patterns of overseas travel for cancer care among cancer survivors of six member states of the OECS and (P2): Explore the lived experience of cancer survivors and caregivers and how overseas travel for care affects their social support systems. Investigators anticipate that (H1) a substantial proportion of cancer survivors travel outside of their resident country for cancer. We expect certain destinations to be more frequented among cancer survivors by individual characteristics (cancer site, stage and country of residence). We also expect that (H2) overseas care may be associated with both challenges and adaptations in social support systems, as explored qualitatively through survivor and caregiver accounts.

Conditions

Neoplasm

Keywords

cancer; health services; health disparities; small islands; Caribbean; outcomes; medical tourism; early detection

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Destination country for cancer treatment

  We will map and characterize patterns of overseas care.We will compute the proportion or cancer survivors who travelledtraveled overseas for diagnosis and treatment among the entire sample. The proportion of overseas travel will be computed as well by cancer site, OECS country, period of diagnosis, and type of diagnostics and treatment accessed. Where possible we will characterize overseas travel by region (Caribbean, North America, South America, Europe, and other) and by destination country.

  At inclusion (0 days)

• Social support system

  Qualitative interviews for social support will be initiated by an introductory question "describe the support you received during the cancer journey", then guided by questions and prompts "who", "what was the relationship to you? such as a family, friend, neighbours" and "when". Participants will be encouraged to focus on aspects of the day-to-day logistics and travel arrangements, experience living overseas.

  At inclusion (0 days)

Study Arms (1)

Informal caregivers

Informal caregivers of cancer survivors diagnosed in the Eastern Caribbean

Other: Overeseas travel for care

Interventions

Overeseas travel for care OTHER

Cancer survivors who travel overseas travel for care (observation)

Informal caregivers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent

You may qualify if:

• Primary aim 1 (P1): We will include cancer survivors 18 years of age or older, able to communicate in English or local dialect (without cognitive impairment), with an invasive cancer diagnosis (any cancer site, histology, and year of diagnosis), and having accessed health services in their island of residence (i.e. Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent ) due to their cancer. Participation will include written authorization to access each patient's data from medical records in health care institutions and centers
• Primary aim 2 (P2): For the qualitative segment of this proposal, field investigators across the 6 islands will purposefully identify cancer survivors and caregivers of survivors who (1) are receiving or already finished their initial active treatment at the time of the study, (2) received a treatment requiring the intervention of a medical professional (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), and (3) are willing to provide written consent for one-on-one interviews and/or focus group discussions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vaughan A. Lewis Institute for Research and Innovation: lead

Study Sites (6)

Breast Friends Women in Touch

St John's, Antigua and Barbuda

Location

Dominica Cancer Society

Roseau, Dominica

Location

St.George's University

Saint George's, Grenada

Location

Essence of hope breast cancer foundation

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Location

VALIRI

Castries, Saint Lucia

Location

SCORCH cancer support foundation

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms

Study Officials

• Aviane Auguste, PhD

  Vaughan A. Lewis Institute for Research and Innovation

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 19, 2024
• First Posted: July 10, 2026
• Study Start: September 16, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2028
• Last Updated: July 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: To be defined. We intend to publish manuscripts from this work. Data availablity is expected approximately 4 years after the end of data collection with no end date
• Access Criteria: To be determined

Locations

AN (1); DO (1); SA (1); GR (1)