Implementation of trauma rehabilitation prescriptions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring use and implementation of rehabilitation prescriptions for individuals admitted to uk major trauma centres: a mixed-methods study
IRAS ID
315174
Contact name
Jade Kettlewell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Traumatic injuries can be life changing with many survivors experiencing a range of physical and psychological problems. More people are surviving traumatic injury following the opening of UK Major Trauma Centres in 2012, however more individuals are living with the long-term effects of trauma, often requiring rehabilitation. The ‘Rehabilitation Prescription’ was developed in 2010, designed to support the identification of patient rehabilitation needs. The trauma survivor and family should be involved in its completion with the aim to improve continuity of community care following hospital discharge. However, research suggests that the Rehabilitation Prescription is not being used properly. Patients often feel as if they have been abandoned when they leave hospital with limited knowledge about their rehabilitation plans. The Rehabilitation Prescription is not always being completed by rehabilitation experts and is not always shared with relevant healthcare professionals (e.g. GPs).
Aim: to understand how the ‘Rehabilitation Prescription’ is currently completed for trauma survivors and identify issues affecting its use.
The proposed research will be split into 5 stages:
1) Observations within three Major Trauma Centres to understand the processes involved in completing the Rehabilitation Prescription across different hospitals.
2) Case studies to map the ‘journey’ of the Rehabilitation Prescription involving up to 54 interviews with nine trauma survivors and up to five interviews with individuals relevant to the care of the trauma survivors (e.g. therapist, GPs, carers). Medical notes will also be reviewed.
3) Further interviews and focus groups with 20 individuals involved in using/completing the Rehabilitation Prescription to explore factors that may affect or support its implementation.
4) Online survey to be completed by 65 trauma or rehabilitation healthcare providers to explore behaviours that may affect the implementation of the Rehabilitation Prescription.
5) Workshops within three Major Trauma Centres to discuss potential solutions to improve the use of the Rehabilitation Prescription.REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0808
Date of REC Opinion
15 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion