Improving the health of homeless people; a qualitative study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Improving the health of homeless people; an exploratory qualitative study

• IRAS ID

  139236

• Contact name

  Julie Parkes

• Contact email

  jules@soton.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Southampton

• Research summary

  Background
  Homelessness is associated with increased risk of ill-health and premature mortality. The average age of death for homeless patients is 40-44 years. Poor health also contributes to the chronicity of homelessness. Tackling health is an important step in reducing homelessness. Many homeless people have a history of contact with the criminal justice system- over 75% of homelessness services support people who have a custodial history- and homelessness increases chances of reoffending. In addition there is a link between offending and health. It is important to understand how people who are homeless perceive their health and healthcare services, and how they use health care in both NHS and in the criminal justice system so as to be better placed to offer appropriate focused services and improve access, aiming to improve health and reduce inequalities.

  Aims
  1. To explore perceptions, experiences and attitudes towards health and health care in homeless people.
  2. Where appropriate, to explore the perceptions, experiences and attitudes towards health care of homeless people whilst in the Criminal Justice System.

  Methods
  In-depth qualitative interviews will be conducted with people from homeless healthcare /and currently living in homeless hostels. The sample will consist of people with a range of ages, men and women and from different ethnic backgrounds. Interviews will be transcribed, managed using a data software package and will be subjected to accepted robust analysis to identify patterns and key themes.
  This qualititive study will include participants’
  • perceptions of their health problems
  • experiences of health-related interventions received
  o whilst homeless
  o in criminal justice system (if appropriate)
  • perceived impact of any intervention?
  • facilitators and barriers to improving their health and accessing health services
  o whilst homeless
  o in criminal justice system (if appropriate)
  • how will they address their health needs the future?

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/NW/0027

• Date of REC Opinion

  14 Jan 2014

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion