Consensus building: Interventions to reduce readmissions (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Consensus building of pharmaceutical interventions prioritisation to reduce risk of frequent hospital admissions in Frail Elderly Patients? Capturing the Voice of Practitioners and patients: A Modified Delphi Process
IRAS ID
227744
Contact name
V-Lin Cheong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Older people living with frailty are vulnerable to medication harm due to multiple health conditions, medication and hospital admissions. Frequent hospital admissions are linked to frequent changes to medication, making the ongoing management of patients’ medications challenging. A study by Age UK also found that frequent admissions have a negative impact on patients’ confidence, self-efficacy and mood.
There is some research evidence which showed the links between medicines-related risk factors with frequent hospital admissions. There is however, a lack of research of patients’ and professionals’ priorities and views of services which address these risks.
The purpose of this study is to find out what services can be delivered to reduce these risks and subsequently hospital admissions in frail elderly patients. We will ask the opinions of healthcare professionals and patients/ carers of which services they think would be most acceptable and effective based on their experiences.
This research will be carried out using surveys with healthcare professionals (delivered by email), patients and/or their carers (carried out by face-to-face contact with the researcher in the patients’ home or by the bedside). Up to three survey rounds will be carried out in order to achieve a consensus of top priorities. Eligible healthcare professionals will be identified from approaching those who are involved in delivering/ setting up services to frail elderly patients in all clinical (community and hospital) settings. Patients (and the carers of) who are 75 years and over who have had 3 or more hospital admissions in the last year will be identified on the wards and approached to be recruited to participate in the survey rounds. The survey consists of a list of services which participants are required to give a score out of 1-5 of how effective they think it is, and how acceptable it is to patients.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
18/NI/0027
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion