Improving shared care for patients with venous leg ulcers using an aid
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the challenges around implementing shared care for registered nurses and the wider multi-disciplinary team in patients venous leg ulcers? Part 1 Pilot and development of shared care aid
IRAS ID
339472
Contact name
Georgina Wynn-Williams
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
The research will investigate barriers healthcare professionals and service users face when promoting shared care and how to overcome these so that patients feel confident and competent in providing up-to-date, knowledgeable care to improve wound healing and reduce the number of clinical and home visits.
Recent changes reinforced the need for health care to be delivered in different ways to enable the National Health Service (NHS) to be fit for purpose and provide high levels of care (Dhoonmoo, 2023). Wound care is one of the many ways patients can take responsibility and be involved in their care. Venous leg ulcers (VLU) account for approximately 80% of ulcers found on the lower limb, with a recurrence rate of approximately 60% (Weller et al., 2020). Studies have identified that VLU is dramatically increasing due to several factors, including the increase in people living longer with multiple comorbidities (Moore & Coggins, 2021). Patients with the education and knowledge on preventing and managing VLU can positively impact the Trust and the NHS, as the cost of treating leg ulcers is £2 billion per year (Hopkins, 2020).
The research will be conducted using qualitative research, and data will be collected in three phases. Data will be collected through questionnaires and focus groups with healthcare professionals and informal interviews with patients and the public. Individuals eligible to participate in the research must work in LPT (Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust), where they promote shared care or are patients in LPT receiving care. The data collection for the questionnaire will take place online, and the focus groups and informal interviews will take place at an LPT site known to the participants where they work or receive care, such as a health centre.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
25/WA/0031
Date of REC Opinion
20 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion