Early signs monitoring to prevent relapse and promote wellbeing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EMPOWER: Early signs Monitoring to Prevent relapse and prOmote Wellbeing, Engagement and Recovery
IRAS ID
199452
Contact name
Andrew Gumley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN99559262
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
[revised as per REC Prov opinion request as stated in 10Mar16 response letter]
This study aims to explore how acceptable and usable a mobile phone application (App) called EMPOWER is to service users with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, their carers and mental health staff. The EMPOWER App aims to enable service users to (a) monitor their early warning signs of relapse (b) develop greater control and self management of early warning signs and (c) in the event of an increased risk of relapse access help from carers or mental health staff in a timely and acceptable manner. The project will last 9-months and is comprised of three separate programmes of work (called Workpackages). In the first Workpackage (WP1) we will conduct Focus Groups to (a) to evaluate the how acceptable and usable service users and carers find the EMPOWER App, and (b) we will explore what factors would motivate these individuals to use the EMPOWER App and what factors would get in the way. The aims of the second WP (WP2) are: (a) to evaluate how acceptable and usable the EMPOWER App amongst professional mental health care staff, (b) to identify, and (c) explore exsiting practice in relapse prevention and how the EMPOWER App could compliment or enhance existing practice. These FOCUS Groups will help us to improve the design of the EMPOWER App also help us identify training needs of service users, carers and mental health staff. The aim of the third WP (WP3) is to finalise the EMPOWER App by asking service users to use the App for a period of a week in order to identify any problems in use and acceptability. This study will help the research team to prepare the ground for further research to evaluate the EMPOWER App.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
16/WS/0042
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion