Healthy Ageing, Research and Participation study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Recruitment of older people to interventions to promote health and social well-being
IRAS ID
149115
Contact name
Kalpa Kharicha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2014/06/45, Data protection registration
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 0 days
Research summary
Research is still needed on how best to enhance the health of an ageing population, and to postpone disability, through the NHS. Comprehensive assessment of older people’s needs, followed by active support for changes in behaviour and assistance, may delay disability, preserve independence and improve well-being. This is a Government priority.
We have tested a promising new way of approaching this. The Multi-dimensional Risk Assessment tool for Older people (MRAO) profiles the health and wellbeing of individuals aged 65+ using a comprehensive questionnaire about health and social circumstances, then a computer ‘expert system’ analyses answers and generates detailed, personalised feedback and advice on relevant community resources. The primary care team then follows up people with unmet needs.
Our previous pilot study shows this works well for some older people, but does not reach all of them. The oldest old (aged 85+), some ethnic minority groups, and those living in housing they do not own themselves are less likely to engage, and so may miss opportunities to improve or maintain their health and well-being. We are therefore proposing a study of how to engage better with these groups.
This study will review what has been written about this subject previously. The review’s findings will be debated by experts – including lay experts (older people) – to reach agreement on ways to involve wider and diverse groups of older people in health promotion. We will hold focus group discussions and interviews with older people from groups that did not to take part in our earlier work to learn what might encourage them to be involved in research on health promotion.
We will produce guidance for policy makers, practitioners and researchers on engaging excluded groups of older people in health promotion activities and studies, and use this new knowledge to help design future research.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1053
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion