A systems approach to falls and discharge planning
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A systems approach to falls and discharge planning
IRAS ID
219657
Contact name
Mary Duah-Owusu White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bournemouth University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT03958994, Clinical trials.gov
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: The Care Quality Commission (2016) notes that the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RBCH) has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving care given to people with dementia. However, feedback from patients with dementia indicate that improvements are still required (Care Quality Commission, 2016). Therefore, the main aim of this study is to explore how a systems based approach can be used to help with the discharge planning process and the reduction of falls amongst people with dementia by conducting interviews with hospital staff and carers of people with dementia.
Research question: How can a systems perspective contribute to reducing length of stay for people with dementia in an acute hospital through improvements in discharge planning and falls prevention?
Setting: This study will be conducted at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Duration:This study is not expected to last longer than three months.
Methods: The researcher will interview hospital staff and carers of people with dementia for a period of approximately thirty minutes. This study will use a hospital systems approach to identify the following: 1) communication and interpersonal strategies used by professionals in the discharge planning process and the reduction of falls, 2) the effectiveness of equipment such as manual handling aids in helping with the discharge planning process and the reduction of falls amongst people with dementia, 3) the impact of policies in the discharge planning process and the reduction of falls, and 4) the influence of the ward environment in helping with the discharge planning process and the reduction of falls. These questions are embedded in Edwards's (1972), Hawkins's (1987) and Zecevic et al.'s (2007) theoretical framework (interactions, environment, policies and equipment).
The findings from this study will be used to inform practice.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0404
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion