Improving care pathways for frequent users of emergency care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reducing Frequent Attendance in Emergency Care Through Improving Care Pathways
IRAS ID
180408
Contact name
Cindy Cooper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
There are increasing numbers of patients accessing the Emergency Department (ED) frequently (defined as 4> attendances within 12 months). Many frequent attenders have both long-term health conditions and mental health problems (Hunter et al, 2013; Althaus et al, 2011). Anxiety and depression may reduce a patient’s ability to cope with and self-manage their physical health condition (Williams et al, 2011). In addition patients with physical conditions may experience health anxiety, worrying excessively about their health and being pre-occupied with monitoring their symptoms leading to high use of health services (Barsky et al, 2005). There have been a number of interventions designed to address frequent attendance at the ED but few have addressed mental health issues alongside physical conditions (Harkness et al, 2010). CBT has been shown to be effective for health anxiety in medical patients but is very resource intensive (Tyrer, 2014).
The first aim of this project is to gain a more in-depth understanding about how health related anxiety influences frequent attenders use of the ED
The second aim is to identify, through interviews with patients and providers, alternative sources of support which could be helpful to patients whose attendances at the ED may be associated with health related anxiety.
We will conduct semi- structured interviews with (1) up to 25 patients who frequently attend ED and who have anxiety and (2) up to 15 staff members who have experience of working with frequent attenders.
We will be exploring: (1) patients’ reasons for attendance, their experiences of emergency care and support they feel would be more helpful and (2) the views of front-line staff on more appropriate strategies for managing patients who frequently attend emergency services,
Please note we are only seeking ethical approval for work package 3 in the protocol.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0337
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion