Enhanced recovery in medicine (version 1.1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Enhanced Recovery in Acute Medicine (version 1.1)
IRAS ID
165775
Contact name
Helen C Newman-Allen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter, Research and Knowledge Transfer
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
It is widely recognised that acute hospital services cannot meet demand and that current service practices are unsustainable. In addition, persistent concerns over the quality and experience of care provision for acutely ill medical patients, mandate change and innovation.
Enhanced recovery programmes represent an innovative and major change to the way in which care is managed and delivered compared with conventional practices. Originally introduced in colorectal surgery (Kehlet, 1997), they are now widespread in a variety of surgical disciplines. Due to the reported clinical and cost effectiveness of these programmes in surgery, there is growing support in the UK to extend their use into other medical specialities. Enhanced recovery programmes have been very recently introduced into acute medical practice in several healthcare trusts in England. However, at present little is known about how and why these interventions work in this setting.
Torbay Hospital Medical Research Foundation is funding this research project to further understanding of an 'Enhanced Recovery programme in Acute Medicine’ (ERM) in use at Torbay Hospital. The aim of the study is to build explanatory theory as to how and why the ERM is thought to work, for whom and under what circumstances?
A mixed method, multiple case-study will be conducted at Torbay Hospital. The study will recruit health professionals, acute medical inpatients and their family, friends and/or carers. Observational and interview data will be gathered in an emergency admission unit and a medical ward setting over a six month period. All of the data collected and analysed will lead to the formulation of an explanatory programme theory of how and why the ERM works, which will be presented as a conceptual model.
Understanding more about enhanced recovery will add to knowledge about recovery in acute medical inpatients. Potentially influencing clinical practice and improving the quality of care.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0217
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion