exploring social network dyamics of 'Hospital at Home' patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the effects of social network dynamics on patients receiving ‘hospital at home’ care in a rural environment.
IRAS ID
258039
Contact name
Ivaylo Vassilev
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
In recent years NHS policy has emphasised the need to relocate care outside of hospitals and into community settings. For many health conditions there are financial benefits to this with no negative effect to medical outcomes. Treatment at home is shaped by the engagement with people’s social networks. This may be through access to additional support, but there may also be a risk that patients might become isolated and lack the needed help with practical, everyday illness management tasks.
Initiatives such as Hospital at Home (HAH) support people with their health needs outside of hospitals. HAH staff may be well positioned to identify people who have insufficient social support or become lonely or isolated and therefore provide further support or opportunities for social interaction. Additionally, understanding the process of network engagement could help tailor and improve the support offered through the HAH service.
This study will use a mixed-methods approach to develop staff and patient understanding of the interactions between patient personal networks, the HAH service and patient outcomes during and after HAH treatment. This research will contribute to, and develop, the existing literature on the affect social networks have on health, loneliness, social isolation, coping and the process of activating and sustaining network support. In addition, these insights will be drawn on in order to improve the HAH service and patient care.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0207
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion