CPrUP v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Designing interventions to help older people and their informal carers prevent pressure ulcers
IRAS ID
293514
Contact name
Jennifer K Roddis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Portsmouth
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
We aim to change patient and lay carer health behaviours to reduce the risk of bedsore (also known as a pressure ulcer (PU)) development in a two phase project. We will develop an intervention (toolkit of resources) informed by theory and evidence. This will be adaptable according to patient and lay carer needs. It may include, for example, videos, leaflets and reminders.
Around half a million people in the UK develop a PU each year. PUs reduce health and wellbeing and are costly for the NHS. We will work with older people living at home and their lay carers, an often-underserved group. Our study is important because i) our population is ageing and for most of the time responsibility for PU prevention activities rests with themselves and their family and ii) we do not yet know the best ways to help this group minimise their risk of PU development.
Our approach is underpinned by health psychology, specifically behaviour change theory, which we know is effective in getting people to change health behaviours. Firstly, we will interview adult patients (65 years and over) with limited mobility (often described as being housebound) who are at risk of PUs and their informal carers (most often family members). We will ask i) what PU prevention advice and information they have been given (e.g. moving around, changing position, healthy eating, checking their skin) and ii) how, why and how much they follow this advice.
Secondly, findings from these interviews will inform development of a toolkit to help patients and lay carers follow advice to reduce the risk of PU and change existing health behaviours. We will co-design the toolkit with patients, lay carers and healthcare professionals. We know that co-design is most likely to result in a toolkit that is acceptable, fit for purpose and used.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0061
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion