Improving dignity for older people in hospital
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving dignity for older people in hospital
IRAS ID
153521
Contact name
Christine Norton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust
Research summary
65% of admissions to acute hospitals are people over 65 years old. Care is often complex, but not acute, and within a technology and efficiency-driven environment of acute healthcare, the need to preserve dignity for elderly patients can be overlooked.
Dignity is a complex concept and what is important to people is different in different settings. Numerous reports and inspections have often found dignity in the NHS to be poor. There have been many recommendations on improving older people’s dignity in hospital but virtually no testing of these.
This study aims to implement a supported programme to promote dignity in the care of older people in acute hospitals, and to see if any improvements are sustained when support is later withdrawn. Eighteen wards or departments will be involved. We will start by observing the current care in these areas to identify ways in which dignity is not protected. We will also gather video information from staff and patients about protecting dignity. Staff videos will be reviewed by patients, and patient videos by staff, to identify the differences in staff and patient perceptions of issues relating to dignity. These staff and patient groups will then work together to select the dignity-related issues which need addressing, and how care delivery needs to change so that dignity is promoted in the elderly. We will then help key members of the care team in each study location work out what needs to change in their area to promote dignity. Specialist support staff will guide the introduction of these dignity ‘action plans.’ Doctors, nurses and students will be involved. Once the dignity action plans are established, the specialist support will be withdrawn and at the end of the study period, we will collect more data to determine whether the action plans are sustainable and effective.REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1683
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion