ACTION: A qualitative study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  ACTION: Exploring the perspectives of patients, personal representatives, healthcare professionals and facilitators of an Advance Care Planning intervention: a qualitative study

• IRAS ID

  193827

• Contact name

  Kristian Pollock

• Contact email

  Kristian.Pollock@nottingham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  This is a qualitative study, complementary to the ACTION RCT, in which patients with advanced lung or colorectal cancer receive an Advance Care Planning (ACP) intervention from a trained facilitator. ACTION RCT has been recruiting patients since July 2015. In this qualitative study patients will receive the ACP intervention, but instead of completing questionnaires, as in the ACTION RCT, they will be invited to participate in two qualitative interviews about the ACP intervention.
  The qualitative study aims to explore how patients, their personal representatives, their health care professionals and trained facilitators experience the Respecting Choices ACP intervention, and assess its acceptability and value in formulating goals and preferences for future care and improving quality of life.
  It is a three centre study in the UK, recruiting patients, personal representatives, Healthcare Professionals and Respecting Choices' facilitators in Nottingham and facilitators only in Lancaster.
  The study will comprise:

  1) Analysis of qualitative study participants' recorded Respecting Choices Advance Care Planning interventions
  2) Analysis of qualitative study participants' completed My Preferences forms
  3) Qualitative interviews with patients, personal representatives and health care professionals.
  4) Focus groups with the Respecting Choices Facilitators

  A sample of up to 36 participants will be involved in the study. Patients will receive the Respecting Choices ACP intervention, involving one or two discussions with a trained facilitator. They will be accompanied by a relative or friend acting as their personal representative, if they wish.

  Interviews will take place in Nottingham as follows:
  • ~10 patients will be interviewed on one or two occasions
  • ~10 personal representatives will be interviewed on two occasions (some interviews may take place after the death of the patient)
  • ~10 healthcare professionals will be interviewed once

  • 6 Respecting Choices Facilitators from Nottingham and Lancaster will take part in up to three focus groups to be held in Nottingham

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/EM/0055

• Date of REC Opinion

  1 Mar 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion