Feasibility of Studying Communication about Emergency Interventions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The feasibility of studying (patient-clinician-family) communication in which decisions regarding high-risk emergency interventions are made.
IRAS ID
316366
Contact name
Ben Gibbison
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
When patients have emergency conditions that may require surgery, the communication between them, their families and their healthcare professionals is key in making decisions about these treatments. ‘Shared-decision making’ describes the process in which healthcare professionals and patients work together to make choices that are right for each individual patient, but it is possible that in emergency settings, where time is short and stakes are high, this is more difficult to achieve.
This six-months research project, will aim to establish how treatment-decision-making conversations are currently conducted and how best to research these vital moments. This feasibility project is important for future research, which could improve the way this communication happens to ensure that shared-decision making can also occur in emergency situations.
With the consent of patients, their families and clinicians, the researcher will observe and audio-record the interactions in which decisions about emergency surgery are made. Patients will be approached at the start of their hospital admission and followed through their stay. These observations will yield insights about the current state of communication, which stakeholders may be involved in shaping decisions, and at which point in a patients’ journey key choices are made.
Later on, the same participants (both patients and families, as well as clinicians) will be interviewed on their experience of the decision-making around emergency surgery, and on conducting communication research. The acquired observations, recordings and interviews will be transcribed and analysed using qualitative research methods, in order to understand common themes and issues.
The findings of this project will guide future research on communication in emergency settings, and develop ways in which to conduct this in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
22/WA/0308
Date of REC Opinion
15 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion