Marie-Anne Durand

Research project

Development and implementation of decision-support tools to minimize social inequalities in cancer care

Project summary

In phase 1 (first 5 months of the Chair), three decision-support tools will be developed or adapted from the English version. Two decision-support tools for localized breast cancer, already developed and tested in English-speaking countries, will be adapted in collaboration with the SIRIC and other partner laboratories (UMR912 SESSTIM, Social Psychology Laboratory, and other SHS laboratories):

1. Decision to undergo mastectomy or lumpectomy + radiotherapy;2. Decision to undertake post-mastectomy reconstruction, and if so, whether immediate or deferred, and whether by flap or prosthesis.

These three decision-support tools will incorporate images and simplified medical language (Picture Option Grid) to promote their use among the general population, whatever the patient’s level of health literacy.

In parallel, and in response to the SIRIC’s priorities (to increase the rate of patient inclusion in clinical trials), I will develop a third decision support tool for inclusion in clinical trials in collaboration with the SIRIC. This decision support tool will be focused on a particular clinical trial, depending on the trials in progress between September 2018 and July 2019, for which a member of the SIRIC will be principal investigator.In phase 2, (the last five months of the Chair), I want to test the implementation of these three decision support tools using “PDSA” (Plan, Do, Study, Act) cycles with volunteer teams.My objectives, after 10 months of collaboration with the Marseille SIRIC, are:- To have developed and partially implemented three decision support tools;- To guide the development of other decision support tools in French oncology, in collaboration with the SIRIC teams;- To have established lasting collaborations with various SIRIC teams and other laboratories at the University of Aix Marseille;- To have published at least two articles related to this project;- To prepare further funding applications with Dr. Manicni and new collaborators from the SIRIC. Prepare further funding applications with Dr. Manicni and new collaborators from SIRIC and the University of Aix-Marseille;- Be able to promote scientific exchanges between our two institutions (including for Masters, PhD and post-doctoral students).