Bringing Humanising Influences to Critical Care

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Bringing Humanising Influences to Critical Care Through the Natural Environment: Collaborative Evaluation of the new Critical Care garden at James Cook University Hospital.

• IRAS ID

  324158

• Contact name

  Sheila Quaid

• Contact email

  sheila.quaid@sunderland.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Sunderland

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  015191, University of Sunderland Ethical Approval

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 7 months, 5 days

• Research summary

  This project aims to evaluate the impact of the Critical Care garden at James Cook University Hospital. The evaluation will gather multi-layered insight relating to:
  1. Understanding patient, visitor and staff experiences of the garden and impact on a range of outcomes from biomedical, to mental health/well-being, to recovery
  2. Critically reviewing the garden’s successes, whilst providing clear, actionable recommendations for the James Cook University Hospital garden, along with future considerations in the event similar projects are undertaken in other hospitals or spaces of care provision

  The overall evaluation is a collaboration between South Tees NHS Hospital Trust, HEIs and senior stakeholders within the critical care field. An inter-disciplinary approach is employed, combining insight curated by Dr. Paul Chazot from a scientific and biomedical perspective, with qualitative and anecdotal evidence gathered by Dr.
  Sheila Quaid.

  The strand relating to this IRAS application reflects a qualitative methodology which aims to provide in-depth understanding of the critical care garden’s inception, usage and broader impact on those that access it.
  Qualitative interviews with senior stakeholders, clinicians, practitioners, patients and families will provide a holistic picture of the critical care garden. This IRAS application specifically relates to accessing patients.

  The evaluation follows an iterative process, each distinct research phase is informed by insight gathered in the prior exploration. The timeline outlined below underpins the requirement to gain access to patients and/or family members of those on the critical care ward.

  Phase 1 reflects in-depth interviews with senior stakeholders/clinicians to identify the overall aims of the garden against which its success will be evaluated. Phase 2 employs hospital staff/practitioners to assess the practical elements of the garden. Finally, Phase 3 evaluates whether the original aims of the garden have been met from the perspective of patients and families, along with insight on positive outcomes of using the garden.

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  23/NW/0332

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Nov 2023

• REC opinion

  Unfavourable Opinion