Physical and mental health problems during COVID-19: qualitative study [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experiences of people with complex physical and mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study\n\n
IRAS ID
283375
Contact name
MAX HENDERSON
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
LEEDS & YORK PARTNERSHIP NHS FOUNDATION TRUST4›
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Patients with a combination of physical and mental health problems have complex needs often requiring close collaboration between GP and liaison psychiatry. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in confinement to home and marked social isolation for all but key workers. Psychiatry outpatient services have reduced or closed, other mental health support services in the community have shut, and GPs are providing most consultations online or by telephone. Such changes are anxiety-provoking for many, but present particular problems for those already vulnerable with complex health needs.\n\nOur study will characterise the experiences of patients with co-morbid physical and mental health conditions during the pandemic. We will map the care they receive from GP, hospital and the voluntary sector. We will identify gaps and suggest interventions to reduce the adverse psychological impacts of the pandemic.\n\nWe will sample a diverse range of outpatients of the Leeds liaison psychiatry service. They will initially be approached by their current clinician. Those willing will be contacted by the research team to explain the study and seek informed consent.\n\nPatients will be interviewed by one of the current liaison psychiatry team by telephone. The interview will be recorded, transcribed and analysed. A topic guide will cover both the 6 months before, and the months since, the pandemic took hold. Questions about physical and mental health status, access to health services, work, relationships & benefits as well as the patients thoughts and feelings about the pandemic and the measures put in place to manage it. Interviews will be repeated 3 months later.\n\nWe will use our findings to make recommendations about the current and future management of this group of vulnerable patients and to establish a much larger study to examine the impact of the pandemic on the wider group of mental health patients.\n\n\n
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0137
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion