ACT Assessment Programme Evaluation v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ACT Assessment Programme Evaluation
IRAS ID
315150
Contact name
Karen Windle
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Suffolk
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Not applicable , Not applicable
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
The World Health Organization Global Strategy and action plan on aging and health has provided a framework (Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE)) to align health and care systems to the needs of older people. ICOPE focuses on providing integrated, community-based interventions to older people; to prevent decline in their functional ability, ensuring wellbeing, as well as the compression of morbidities.
The Age Care Technologies (ACT) assessment has been built on the ICOPE domains of mobility, falls and fracture risk, vision, hearing, nutrition, oral health, cognition, depression, loneliness, urinary incontinence, accommodation, finances, activities of daily living, relationships, and social participation. The assessment is being piloted across the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System (SNEE ICS) in three Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INT) areas: Felixstowe, South Central and Ipswich. In each area, those aged 75 and over are invited to participate. From the replies, a sample of 300 older people and their primary unpaid carers are assessed by members of the INTs. Based on the assessment results, patients and their carers and may signposted to a range of community-based services and a follow-up assessment takes place at 3 months.
This study is to evaluate the pilot of the ACT assessment. We will carry out a maximum of 30 interviews of patients and their carers. There will also be a data analysis of ACT assessment records to assess the level of reported need, unmet need, variation in ACT assessment scores and core demographic information. We will have a process mapping exercise with assessors and have interviews with six of them. Finally, we will deliver a limited cost assessment exercise and a learning workshop.
Summary of results:
The Age Care Technologies (ACT) Assess & Connect tool was developed to help assess the health and social needs of older people to deliver personalised care plans focused on community support. The assessment is built upon the five domains defined by the World Health Organisation ICOPE (Integrated Care for Older People) approach: mobility, cognition, psychologic capacity, vitality, and sensory capacity. It identifies areas of concern, which individuals can review and highlight priorities for their health and wellbeing. Local services aligned with these priorities are signposted to the individual, and wider safeguarding and clinical considerations are raised to their GPs.
The Suffolk pilot
The Suffolk pilot aimed to conduct ACT assessments and follow-ups in 300 older people and carers. Originally these were delivered over the phone or in person through integrated neighbourhood teams, with a switch to a national call centre in summer 2023 to enable robust data collection.Integrated Care Academy (ICA) evaluation
ACT requested an evaluation of the programme conducted by the ICA at the University of Suffolk. This multi-method evaluation focused on the readiness, feasibility, and acceptability of the tool in Suffolk to improve the tool.Older people in Suffolk who had been assessed using the tool were invited to talk about their experiences. Process mapping exercises with staff helped understand if the assessment fits with current systems of care and identify barriers and facilitators to implementation. Additionally, information collected through the assessments helped us understand the local needs of older people. The ICA adopted a collaborative evaluative approach with ACT to make real-time adjustments to the project.
What have we found?
The ACT Assess & Connect tool had high acceptability with participants and assessors, using both the INT and national centre assessment models. The tool was positively received by participants, with individuals commenting on the value of talking through health and wellbeing questions with someone to spark preventative measures, whether over the phone or face-to-face.Recommendations were made to ensure implementation readiness. These recommendations surrounded strengthening data processes, directory services, participant information and recruitment, especially for marginalised groups of older people.
Our work showed proof of concept for the feasibility of this offer. The tool was successful in identifying the concerns and priorities of older people in Suffolk. Most individuals recruited did not identify any priority needs. The most common concern triggers related to chronic pain, poor sleep and bereavement. Concerns differed between localities, showing that the tool may provide population insights and help to identify resource gaps for older people.
What next?
Following the Suffolk pilot project and evaluation, ACT are looking to implement the tool in other areas of the UK. Reflections from the Suffolk pilot have fed into plans for further expansion into "spread & scale" phases of the tool in Suffolk and beyond.More information on this study is available through the executive summary and full report which has been circulated to those involved and will be available on the University of Suffolk and ICA websites.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
22/WS/0116
Date of REC Opinion
27 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion