HARMONISE V1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Holistic AppRoach for Multimorbidity OptimisatioN after IntenSivE care (HARMONISE)

• IRAS ID

  336523

• Contact name

  Danny McAuley

• Contact email

  d.f.mcauley@qub.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Queen’s University Belfast

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  What is the problem?
  People who survive a critical illness require special care and support. After leaving hospital they can experience many significant problems including weakness, depression, and memory changes, commonly known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Much of the previous research on supporting people following hospital discharge has focused on trying to find the best rehabilitation strategy to address PICS.

  People may also suffer from new or worsening of existing medical problems, which can deteriorate and lead to worse quality of life, another admission to hospital or death. Management of the new and existing medical conditions is made more challenging by associated medications and social problems such as the impact of the critical illness on their job and the need for additional support at home from family or carers. The medical problems can also prevent people from being able to take part in rehabilitation programmes.

  What is our project?
  We have designed a programme, called HARMONISE, which aims to support people with the medical and social problems they experience following discharge home after being in ICU. We also want to find out if the programme can be delivered alongside rehabilitation to address physical and psychological problems after ICU.

  What will we do?
  This study test whether the HARMONISE programme can be delivered during and after discharge from hospital. We will test whether the programme can be delivered alongside rehabilitation for physical and psychological problems after ICU.

  What difference will the research make?
  If it can be delivered, we will design a clinical trial to test whether it improves the outcomes for patients, including reducing the risk of being readmitted to hospital, and improves quality of life, physical strength, and emotional wellbeing of patients. The programme could be offered across the UK and could lead to improved outcomes for patients.

• REC name

  HSC REC A

• REC reference

  24/NI/0008

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Feb 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion