Loneliness in a brain injury population
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Loneliness in people with acquired brain injury in Northern Ireland: A qualitative study
IRAS ID
268221
Contact name
Robert Rauch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Development Office, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Loneliness is growing into one of the biggest health concerns in the UK with an estimated 9 million people reporting they are either always or often lonely (The British Red Cross & Co-Op, 2016). Loneliness has become an even more pressing concern for health care professionals working with people who are living with acquired brain injury or other disabilities; however, the cause, effect and how to best manage this has never been fully explored.
A recent study on older adults in Northern Ireland (Cruise, Keys et al. 2017) has highlighted how Northern Ireland can be thought of uniquely in the area of loneliness due to the rather unique cultural values, such as religion and support available within large extended families.
By learning more about the experience of loneliness after brain injury, the Northern Trust Brain Injury Service will raise awareness and consider ways to prevent and reduce loneliness. Findings will be shared with other services across Northern Ireland, and beyond, to highlight the presence and impact of loneliness.
Fouur focus groups comprising individuals with ABI will be held in the Northern Trust area, with six to eight participants in each group. Discussions within each group will be guided by a series of questions that have been co designed with service users. People who are unable to take part in a group will be offered an interview at a place of their choice.
Ulster University (UU) researchers will conduct the focus groups and one to one interviews. A member of Northern Trust Brain Injury Service will be present to support service users as needed. Each group will last 1 – 1.5 hours in total. Conversations at each group and one to one interviews will be recorded and analysedREC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
19/NI/0203
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion