Evaluation of a Healthcare Passport for People with Dementia (EQuIP)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The evaluation of a healthcare passport to improve quality of care and communication for people living with dementia (EQuIP)
IRAS ID
174692
Contact name
Bethany Waterhouse-Bradley
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
There is an urgent need for the development of simple communication tools that convey the strengths, assets and total healthcare needs of people with dementia, while at the same time providing a strong sense of personhood to which health and social care professionals will respond. The Public Health Agency, in association with the Royal College of General Practitioners and voluntary sector organisations, have developed a Healthcare Passport which will help to carry significant aspects of the individual’s life and provide meaningful information between people living with dementia and health and social care services. The aim of the tool is to help people living with dementia clearly communicate their social, health and spiritual needs to a range of health and social support services in a way that enhances quality and continuity of care, and to allow people living with dementia the opportunity to consider the challenges which their illness may bring and articulate preference about how these challenges might be managed. The study will consist of interviews with 20-25 individuals who have been identified as having mild-moderate dementia, and their family carers, at three points over the course of 18 months while using the passport. It will involve analysis of the content of the passports and feedback from health and social care providers. Participants will be recruited from the Western Trust and interviews will take place at places appropriate to the individuals, This could be at sites in the Western Trust or the individual's home. Key stakeholders will be engaged and supported throughout the process through an Engagement and Participation Officer (EPO) from the Alzheimer’s society. The EPO will also provide training on use of the Passport to participants, their carers, and the relevant health and social care providers. The study is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and The Public Health Agency.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
15/NI/0081
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2015
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion