Improving services through nurse patients/relatives (v1)

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Making it easier for 'nurse patients' and 'nurse relatives' to give feedback to NHS Boards about their experience: a qualitative study.

  • IRAS ID

    148137

  • Contact name

    Jacqueline J Macrae

  • Contact email

    jacqueline.macrae@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Stirling

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    3 years, 6 months, 27 days

  • Research summary

    Background:
    Anecdotal evidence from letters to journals and from the experience of colleagues suggests that nurses often experience poor care when they themselves are patients or relatives. It is well documented that patients find it difficult to give feedback or complain for fear of retribution or feeling that it wouldn't make a difference. Nurses who are patients or relatives in the NHS Board where they are also employed may face additional barriers. Giving feedback could potentially damage employee/employer or colleague/colleague relationships. However, as patients/relatives with insider knowledge, capturing feedback could be a valuable resource for service improvement

    Aim:
    The aim of the proposed study is to identify the circumstances in which it would be easier for nurses who find themselves in the role of ‘patient’ or ‘relative’ (in the NHS Board in which they are also employed) to give feedback when they have received or witnessed poor care or treatment, without causing detriment to their on-going employee, colleague/employer relationships.

    Methods:
    The proposed qualitative study will be conducted across five Health Boards with a sample of 36 nurse patients and nurse relatives. The data will be collected through one semi-structured interview with each participant, up to 12 months following discharge (or discharge of relative), and analysed using Framework.

  • REC name

    East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1

  • REC reference

    15/ES/0002

  • Date of REC Opinion

    30 Apr 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion