Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40527552›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Perceptions of chemoprevention among individuals at high risk of oral cancer: qualitative study within the UK-based SAVER trial.

Frances Sherratt, Caroline McCarthy, Albert Jiménez-Tomàs, J Perry, R Kuruvilla, M W Ho, Stefano Fedele, M Daunt, S Moorhouse, R Shaw and 1 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Frances SherrattDepartment of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4147-9305
Caroline McCarthyUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Albert Jiménez-TomàsUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-0448-945X
J PerryUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
R KuruvillaDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
M W HoOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds, UK.
Stefano FedeleUCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK.
M DauntUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
S MoorhouseUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
R ShawUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Bridget YoungDepartment of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK byoung@liverpool.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6041-9901

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesClinical trials are needed to advance interventions such as chemoprevention that have potential to reduce the risk of malignant transformation in individuals with oral potentially malignant disorders. We explored the perspectives of those screened or invited to join an early phase clinical trial (the SAVER trial: Sodium valproate for the epigenetic reprogramming of high-risk oral epithelial dysplasia). Our objectives were to inform the SAVER trial while it was ongoing and to provide insights for future trials and chemoprevention therapy development more broadly.

designQualitative study involving audio-recorded, semistructured interviews. Analysis of transcribed interviews drew on thematic approaches.

settingFive UK-based sites involved in SAVER.

participantsPurposive sample of individuals (n=20) with suspected or diagnosed oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) who were approached about SAVER.

resultsMost interviewees readily accepted that OED warranted preventive treatment and were positive about the potential of chemoprevention. However, they were often concerned about the side effects of the trial medication, and together with a dislike of biopsies and a perception that the trial might disadvantage treatment, these concerns made some hesitant to participate in SAVER. Interviewees indicated that the communication of staff influenced their understanding and experience of the trial and identified several opportunities for enhancing these aspects.

conclusionsIn indicating that individuals at risk of malignant transformation are accepting of chemoprevention in principle, our findings are supportive of future research on chemoprevention for this group. The findings also draw attention to the crucial role of communication in recruitment to chemoprevention trials. We provide recommendations to support staff during recruitment and enhance individuals' experience of the trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN12448611; Pre-results.

Indexed as

ChemopreventionMouth NeoplasmsPrecancerous ConditionsAdultAgedClinical Trials, Phase II as TopicFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedMulticenter Studies as TopicQualitative ResearchRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicUnited KingdomClinical TrialONCOLOGYORAL MEDICINEPREVENTIVE MEDICINEQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifiers

PMID40527552
PMCPMC12182162

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.