Perceptions of an integrated limb reconstruction service v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Service user, caregiver and healthcare professional perceptions of integrating mental health support in a limb reconstruction clinic.
IRAS ID
154052
Contact name
Anna Simpson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Limb Reconstruction is an orthopaedic surgical practice to restore or improve pain and function in limbs injured by high energy trauma where previous treatments have failed. Limb reconstruction involves major operations where bones are broken and reset. The injuries, their causes and the often protracted treatment can have devastating consequences for patients and their families, and are associated with major psychological comorbidity.
Recognising the need to address these psychological aspects alongside physical treatment, the King's College Hospital Limb Reconstruction Unit (KCHLRU) has embedded mental health screening and treatment in the clinic, using IMPARTS. IMPARTS collects Patient Reported Outcomes for a range of mental health, wellbeing and physical issues in the clinic waiting room using iPad. The system flags high scores to the orthopaedic clinicians who are also trained to discuss mental health issues, enabling them to discuss the issues in the limb reconstruction consultation and refer the patient to a number of care pathways, including a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) therapist and liaison psychiatrist embedded within the KCHLRU.
Although the clinicians and patients report anecdotal support and praise of this embedded approach, it has not been formally evaluated. This study will seek to understand patient, carer and health professional views in more detail to determine the impact, acceptability and perceptions of the various components. The study will be conducted in two stages, first semi-structured interviews with patients and healthcare professionals. The findings of these interviews will inform the development of a survey to be delivered online or in paper form to a larger number of patients and also to caregivers.
The ultimate aim is to improve patient care by highlighting the positive aspects of the approach which could act as exemplars, and to determine which aspects could be further optimised.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0061
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion