An exploration into managing older adults night time needs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration into managing older adults night time needs; A case study approach
IRAS ID
243604
Contact name
Tracy Martin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The population is living longer, recent reports estimate that there are currently over 1.6 million people aged 85 and over living in the UK. It is also reported that the number of hospital admissions are at a record high following the increase in the ageing population. This also corresponds with the reports from Department of Health that the older population are the highest users of the health and social care system.
Patients’ night time needs have been identified as an area for service improvement as a number of hospital readmissions are noted to be due to not managing their needs overnight. The implications of not managing night time needs can have detrimental outcomes for patients then remaining at home and is an area that is under-researched.
The proposed research study aims to establish what patients’ night time needs are within a Community Hospital inpatient setting, for example, whether functional, medical, psychological etc. And to what extent and level the patient needs are supported. Currently within the local community hospital settings there is limited effective means of collecting this level of detailed information.The approach for this research is a case study design. This method is considered appropriate when exploring a particular phenomenon and is an approach that integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a rich in-depth understanding.
Data collection methods will include: Patients baseline clinical data. Validated outcome measures to record levels of function and independence. Observations of night time activities on each ward. Focus group interviews with health care professionals and semi structured interviews with the patient's and family/carer's.
Following the analysis of the data the aim will be to highlight patient outcomes when addressing the night time needs. To develop theory and highlight factors that facilitate or hinder the independence of patient's managing their night time needs.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0344
Date of REC Opinion
7 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion