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• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Patients and cLinicians’ vIews on the most important outcome meaSure concepTs for first point of contact audiology clinics in WalEs: a semi-structured iNterview approach

• IRAS ID

  337093

• Contact name

  Jack Allum

• Contact email

  jack.allum@wales.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Swansea Bay University Local Health Board

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A, N/A

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  BACKGROUND
  The way in which audiology (hearing) services are delivered in Wales is changing. Over the coming years patients contacting their GP practice for ear related problems will be offered appointments with an audiologist (hearing specialist) first rather than the GP. This will give patients access to specialised services sooner and frees up GPs to see patients with the most complex healthcare needs.

  THE PROBLEM
  Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are questionnaires that capture information on patients’ health. There are currently no validated PROMs for first point of contact (FPoC) audiology services as this is a new service. Before designing a new PROM it is prudent to first explore whether any pre-existing questionnaires can be used to evaluate PC audiology services. In order to identify appropriate PROMs for consideration, we must clearly define what a FPoC audiology PROM should measure.

  AIMS
  To reach national agreement across Wales on what a FPoC audiology patient reported outcome measures questionnaire should measure.

  RESEARCH PLAN
  Service users with experience of accessing FPoC audiology services and clinical staff with experience providing FPoC audiology services will be interviewed to explore what outcomes a PROM for FPoC audiology services should include. The findings of this study will inform a literature review to determine whether any pre-existing PROMs are suitable for evaluating FPoC audiology services or if there is a need to create a new instrument specifically for this purpose.

  PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT (PPI)
  A member of the Swansea Hard of Hearing group will act as the PPI member for this project.
  

• REC name

  East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/EM/0158

• Date of REC Opinion

  19 Aug 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion