Development of Knowledge Support to manage self-harm in primary care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a Knowledge Support tool to inform general practice services for people who have self-harmed
IRAS ID
343623
Contact name
Tjeerd van Staa
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
Rates of self-harm are increasing. Many people who have self-harmed use general practice (GP) services for help. However, healthcare professionals are sometimes unaware of how best to look after patients, and patients are unsure of where to get support.
‘Knowledge Support’ tools may improve GP services - these are software on a GP computer that can deliver information to healthcare professionals, patients and carers during appointments. The tool aims to inform safe and tailored care.
Our research aims to develop such a tool for self-harm in GP practices. We wish to hear the views of healthcare professionals and patient/carers to understand what this tool should look like, how it should be used, and whether it is acceptable.
We will hold two focus groups with healthcare professionals and two focus groups with patients/carers. Participants only need join one group. Afterwards, we will invite participants to an individual interview to provide additional insights into the focus group discussions. We will recruit patients/carers with support of a self-harm charity (Battle Scars) and may recruit via posters in GP practices and social media. We will recruit healthcare professionals through our existing clinical networks, posters and social media. To participant, patients/carers must be 18+ years and able to understand written and verbal English. Healthcare professionals must be clinical GP NHS staff.
This study will help us to understand the information that is needed to develop a knowledge support tool that is beneficial for patients and clinicians. We are joined by an expert-by-experience co-applicant (SA) who will provide input throughout, as well as a panel of healthcare professional and public contributors with personal experience of self-harm (or carers of people with such experiences). This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and is expected to end in June 2026.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
25/WA/0047
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion