Grampian Branching Out pilot project evaluation

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Grampian Branching Out pilot project evaluation

  • IRAS ID

    225457

  • Contact name

    Mike Crilly

  • Contact email

    mike.crilly@abdn.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Aberdeen

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 2 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Grampian Branching Out Pilot Project Evaluation:
    Background:
    Branching Out is a mental health programme aimed at improving the mental wellbeing of patients suffering from long term mental health problems. Although the program is up and running in 10 of the 14 Scottish health boards, it is being piloted throughout Grampian this year
    Aim:
    The aim of the research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot programs, to determine whether it could be sustained and mainstreamed in the long run
    Methods:
    Individual interviews will be conducted with service users, service providers and program coordinators, to gain an insight into their personal opinions and experiences of the Branching Out programs. 6 interviews (approx 30-40 minutes each) will be conducted in total, each in a clinical setting with an additional member of staff present during the interviews. Written consent from participants will be acquired before they participate. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed before using NVIVO to manage and analyse the data.
    Subject to time constraints, short questionnaires using Likert-scale questions will also be administered to branching out service users and service providers, asking them about their experiences of the Branching out project. These will be analysed using SPSS to pick up strengths and weaknesses of the project.
    Participants have their mental health measured at baseline and again at the end of the 12 week program using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. There will be existing data from pilots that have already run when the study begins. SPSS will be used to analyse these questionnaires to determine whether participants experience an improvement in mental health by the end of the program.
    Timeline:
    The research will be conducted in May and June before being analysed and written up by July 24th 2017. The research will then be presented in August 2017.

  • REC name

    South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    17/SW/0115

  • Date of REC Opinion

    18 May 2017

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion