The impact of COVID-19 on families’ relationships with CF Teams [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the relationships between parents of children diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and the Cystic Fibrosis Multi-disciplinary Team.
IRAS ID
284623
Contact name
Steve Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is usually diagnosed in young people soon after birth. The nature of CF means that young people are required to attend CF unit on average every 6 weeks for review, as well as often needing inpatient stays for additional medication and procedures. The Paediatric CF unit will maintain support and care of young people and their families until they transition into adult services between the age of 16 and 18. Given the frequent visits and interactions, a strong relationship is built between families and the CF multidisciplinary team (MDT) which includes; Doctors, Nurses, Physios, Dieticians, Social Workers, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Technicians and Administrators. \n\nCOVID-19 has meant that families have seen their regular face-to-face clinics with the MDT moved to telephone clinics with one or two staff members present instead of all disciplines being available at all clinic visits. While clinics are still running, the current context of COVID-19 has changed the way in which families interact with the CF MDT. Many families are used to travelling long distance to see the CF team such is the importance of the CF MDT who act as a central hub to a young person’s ongoing development and health care needs. Now people are having to access this support remotely via telephone and not being able to have face-to-face contact with professionals they are so used to seeing consistently it is important to understand how remote working impacts on how families experience CF care. As there is more emphasis on technology and remote working post-COVID-19 it would seem prudent to investigate the impact on families. \n\nTherefore, a series of semi-structured interviews would be conducted with parents to assess the impact of the move to remote working in the context of COVID-19 on their relationships and confidence in the CF MDT.\n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0183
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion