Wheelchair Assessment Tool for CHildren (WATCh)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
WATCh (Wheelchair Assessment Tool for CHildren): improving wheelchair services for children and young people through patient centred outcome measures.
IRAS ID
220013
Contact name
Lorna Tuersley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bangor University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
The aim is to improve outcomes for young wheelchair users, of which there are over half a million in the UK. NHS England has funded this work to support the development of 'Patient Centred Outcome Measures' or PCOMs for young wheel chair users. PCOMs are measures that are of most importance to patients who are being supported with or treated for the conditions/symptoms concerned.
Research has shown difficulties in supplying the most appropriate equipment for each child by the NHS. In a third of services, children wait for 11-50 weeks for their chair. Ineffective provision can result in ill-fitting or ill-equipped chairs, causing physical harm and emotional, psychological and social costs, in addition to financial cost.
The research proposed will involve contacting young users of the wheelchair and posture services provided within Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin CCGs, and where relevant, their parents or carers. They will be told about the study and asked to complete a questionnaire. They can return the questionnaire anonymously, but will also be invited to take part in further interviews or focus groups, and to return a signed consent form for their details to be passed on to a university researcher.
From those who consent to take part in further research, around 30 pairs of patients and their parents/carers will be asked about their needs and preferences by an experienced university researcher. These will be in their homes or another appropriate location convenient for them.Their views and the answers to the questionnaires will be analysed and used to devise a means of assessing needs and outcomes for future provision of the services within the CCGs involved.
The work will be published and it is hoped the measure can be shared with other wheelchair service providers across England and elsewhere in the UK.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
17/WA/0078
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion