How can services help people with loneliness after ABI v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How can services help and support people experiencing loneliness following acquired brain injury?
IRAS ID
320216
Contact name
Emma Berry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Loneliness is a serious and increasing problem which can negatively impact physical and mental health. Loneliness is defined as when the need for social connection is not met. Research shows loneliness is a significant problem for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). Loneliness in people with ABI may be increased due to practical problems preventing interaction with others or by difficulties within interactions which prevents feeling authentic connection with others.\nThere is limited research on interventions for loneliness for people with ABI and more information is needed on what makes interventions effective. Any interventions developed need to be acceptable to service-users and service-providers and give sufficient consideration to any practical issues. By asking 3 groups of stakeholders (people with ABI, their families and informal carers, and people who work in ABI services) how services can best help with loneliness, this project aims to gather data which can be used to inform the development of loneliness interventions.\nThese stakeholders will participate in a short survey followed by an online workshop called a World Cafe. A World Cafe is similar to focus groups, where 4-6 people discuss in a group, but participants swap into different groups for each 20 minute discussion round. The purpose of this is to bring different perspectives together and allow ideas to develop. After 3 discussion rounds, everyone votes on the most important points and then discusses the results. The survey responses will inform the World Café discussions. The world cafe will be recorded and transcribed. The transcript of the world cafe and the survey questions will be qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis\nIn each small group there will be a facilitator from Queens University or the Northern Trust Brain injury service. The World Café will be split across 2 sessions of 1.5 hours per day.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0396
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion