EXPERTS Study (EXPloring Experiences of viRTual wardS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative investigation of the experiences of virtual wards of staff, patients, and family, friends and carers.
IRAS ID
318729
Contact name
Joanna Goldthorpe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 13 days
Research summary
Covid-19 has provided a catalyst for the implementation of virtual wards and remote monitoring, this has led to new ways of delivering care, including virtual wards. 'Virtual wards support patients, who would otherwise be in hospital, to receive the acute care, remote monitoring and treatment they need in their own home or usual place of residence. This includes admission avoidance and early supported discharge’ (NHS England and NHS Improvement 2022). This project will be focusing on virtual wards in Cheshire and Merseyside to explore their potential benefits for patients, carers and health care providers.
Following on from the literature review and initial co-production work, we plan to gain further insight to the qualitative benefits of virtual wards. We will interview staff involved in the delivery of the virtual wards, to understand their experience of implementing and delivering care this way. We will also interview patients and their family/friends/carers to understand their experiences of receiving care this way. We will use Theoretical Frame Work of Acceptability (TFA) to inform the interview guide and to interpret the results. The interview data will be first analysed using a framework analysis informed by the TFA. If possible, a secondary analysis may be undertaken using the principles outlined by Braun and Clarke (2012). This will include familiarising ourselves with the data, creating initial codes, developing themes, reviewing the themes, defining and naming themes and disseminating the reuslts.REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0631
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion