CRISIS Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CRISIS Study: Conversations about end of life Readiness in Serious Illness situations Understanding ethnically diverse patients’ experiences of discussions with Health Professionals about deterioration and end of Life in an evolving COVID-19 context
IRAS ID
317207
Contact name
Zoebia Islam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
The CRISIS study focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on end-of-life conversations with patients from ethnically diverse (ED) backgrounds with End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD). We will take a qualitative approach, conducting interviews and focus groups. The research will take place over 20 months in Leicester city and Leicestershire, participants will be identified from the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and include the Leicester General Hospital renal unit and satellite renal units at Hamilton and Loughborough. We will conduct single interviews with 20 patients from ED backgrounds who have ESKD, 15 bereaved family care givers (BFCG) of ESKD patients from ED backgrounds and 15 health care professionals (HCP) involved in their care. We know from previous studies, that there are barriers to accessing appropriate end-of-life care for people from ED backgrounds. These difficulties intensified during COVID-19 as restrictions impacted disproportionately on patients from ED backgrounds and their families. The reluctance of health care professionals and patients from ED backgrounds to engage in end-of-life conversations, include those centred on the ReSPECT form. The ReSPECT form sets out patient choices in the event of a future emergency: for example, decisions on whether or not cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be attempted. Further to this, we also know that patients with ESKD are particularly at risk if they contract COVID-19: we are therefore keen to learn if this potential threat has led to a difference in conversations between patients and health care professionals about end-of-life, including those involving the ResPECT form.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EE/0255
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion