Inequalities in PEOLC in coastal communities
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does living by the coast negatively impact palliative and end-of-life care outcomes? An explanatory sequential mixed methods study exploring the inequality of provision and access to palliative care in a coastal region
IRAS ID
328086
Contact name
Abigail Hensley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to see if there are differences in palliative and end of life care (PEoLC), for patients who live in coastal regions compared to patients that live further in land.
Over the last few years, it has become apparent that people who live in coastal communities are more disadvantaged. This is in terms of social deprivation, job opportunities, and access to healthcare. People that live in deprived areas are more likely to have health problems, including terminal illnesses. There is no current research looking at whether coastal communities are disadvantaged when it comes to palliative and end of life care, and this study hopes to fill that gap.
This study is in two parts- the first part (Phase A) is looking at electronic records from patients who received palliative or end of life care before they died, then comparing patients that lived by the coast to those that lived inland to see if there is any measurable differences. These patients will be from the Great Yarmouth and Waveney region of the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board.We will look at PEoLC outcomes such as:
• Did the patient die where they wanted to?
• Did they receive specialist palliative care?
• How many hospital admissions did they have in the last 3 months of life?
• Were they able to access carers at home in a timely manner?
As well as some information about medications and referrals.The second part of the study (Phase B) will be to hold focus groups of health professionals that work in the coastal region to see why they think these differences occur and what they think could be done to improve patients' care.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/1005
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion