A descriptive survey of cancer helplines in the United Kingdom: Who they are, the services offered, and the accessibility of those services

Abstract Background 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 cancerrelated helpline service provision: the number of helplines available, the variety of services provided, and the accessibility of those services. Method This study used online national questionnaire survey sent to 95 cancer and cancerrelated helplines in the United Kingdom. Results 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. Conclusion 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

Conditional response probabilities of reporting ever eczema and/or ever hayfever, ages 3 to 7.

<p>Trajectory 1: low levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 2: low levels of wheeze and high prevalence of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 3: high levels of wheeze and high levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 4 high levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms.</p

Socio-economic variables and exposure variables, by latent trajectories (1).

<p>Weighted percentages.</p><p>(1) Trajectory 1: low levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 2: low levels of wheeze and high prevalence of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 3: high levels of wheeze and high levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 4: high levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms.</p><p>Socio-economic variables and exposure variables, by latent trajectories (1).</p

Conditional response probabilities for the key model variables (recent wheeze, and other atopic symptoms) by latent trajectories (1).

<p>(1) Trajectory 1: low levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 2: low levels of wheeze and high prevalence of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 3: high levels of wheeze and high levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 4: high levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms.</p><p>Conditional response probabilities for the key model variables (recent wheeze, and other atopic symptoms) by latent trajectories (1).</p

Conditional response probabilities of reporting wheeze in the last 12 months, ages 3 to 7.

<p>Trajectory 1: low levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 2: low levels of wheeze and high prevalence of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 3: high levels of wheeze and high levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 4 high levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms.</p

Multinomial logistic regression of intervenable factors by latent trajectories (1).

<p>Weighted Relative Risk Ratios.</p><p>*** p<0,001** p <0,01 *p<0,05.</p><p>(1) Trajectory 1: low levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 2: low levels of wheeze and high prevalence of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 3: high levels of wheeze and high levels of other atopic symptoms; Trajectory 4: high levels of wheeze and low levels of other atopic symptoms.</p><p>Multinomial logistic regression of intervenable factors by latent trajectories (1).</p

Prevalence of asthma and wheezing symptoms at ages 3, 5 & 7.

<p>Weighted percentages.</p><p>Prevalence of asthma and wheezing symptoms at ages 3, 5 & 7.</p

Mean plasma glucose concentrations according to group during the maltodextrin tolerance test.

<p>Mean plasma glucose concentrations according to group during the maltodextrin tolerance test.</p

Odds of escalation of treatment and odds of using topical anti-inflammatory medication by change in bother score compared to the previous day.

<p>Odds of escalation of treatment and odds of using topical anti-inflammatory medication by change in bother score compared to the previous day.</p

Proportion of days in flare by mean POEM scores for AE severity.

<p>Proportion of days in flare by mean POEM scores for AE severity.</p