Evaluation of Talking Mats in learning disability forensic services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of Talking Mats a visual, communications tool to explore risk and safety with nurses and clients with a learning disability in forensic services (STAY SAFE)
IRAS ID
279181
Contact name
Sarah Rhynas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with a learning disability can find it difficult to talk about health issues, meaning some problems go unrecognised by health professionals leading to poorer outcomes. Those in the criminal justice system, approximately 2-7%, access forensic health services. However, little research exists examining the health of people with a learning disability in this NHS setting and how they communicate with nursing staff.
The STAY SAFE study aims to explore how a visual communication tool called Talking Mats is used by nurses and adults with a learning disability in forensic services to discuss personal health and safety issues (https://www.talkingmats.com/). The study will begin by training nurses in NHS Fife on the Talking Mats tool and asking their opinion about how to tailor it for forensic services. For example, new symbols may need to be added or existing ones refined and a digital version created. Nurses will be given equipment to use the tool in their day to day work caring for patients.
Then nurses and adult patients with a learning disability, based in forensic settings in NHS Fife, will be interviewed and asked about their perceptions and experiences of talking about personal health and safety issues. After this, several months of observation will occur where a researcher will watch nurses and patients with a learning disability use Talking Mats in forensic settings and take photographs of the symbols used. Final interviews with nurses and patients with a learning disability will be conducted to understand their experiences, both positive and negative, of using Talking Mats. The study results will help us understand if this communication tool helps conversations about personal health and safety and whether it can work in a forensic setting to improve care of people with a learning disability. This study is funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
20/SS/0068
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion