National Evaluation of Group Consultation Models

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  National Evaluation of Group Consultation Models: Sir Jules Thorn Trust Virtual Hub

• IRAS ID

  275366

• Contact name

  Fraser Birrell

• Contact email

  fraser.birrell@ncl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Newcastle University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 10 months, 27 days

• Research summary

  This study aims to assess the value of group consultations in the UK. This will be compared to usual care and mapped to healthcare's quadruple aim looking at:

  1. Patient care and satisfaction
  2. Patient outcomes
  3. Value for money
  4. Staff experience

  Due to the COVID-19 crisis the initial focus will be on virtual group consultations (VGC). We plan to include face to face group consultations (GC) and hybrid (face to face with virtual extension option) as soon as it is safe to do so.

  To achieve these aims the study will investigate 4 areas:

  1. Routine activity and outcome data, showing group consultation value based on treatment targets for individual diseases (e.g. blood pressure <140/80)
  2. Cost effectiveness
  3. Interview-based study to explore patient, staff and student views
  4. Educational element: for medical students, nursing/allied health students and qualified doctors to help integrate this new consultation style in teaching

  The study involves 4 groups:

  A. Main cohort (cohort A) patients attending VGC/GC and others not attending VGC/GC. Follow up over time using routinely collected anonymous information.

  From this main cohort there will also be the option to be involved in the following:

  B. Participants consenting to complete questionnaires and provide with identifiable detailed information
  C. Patients and staff consenting to interview
  D. Participants (students and patients) consenting to provide further data for educational research

  The study will take across multiple sites in England, however initially the interview section of the study will only take place at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which also has NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East & North Cumbria project funding.

• REC name

  Wales REC 4

• REC reference

  21/WA/0126

• Date of REC Opinion

  20 May 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion