Measure of engagement of epilepsy patients in messaging groups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measure of engagement of epilepsy patients in messaging groups and group characteristics that influence engagement.
IRAS ID
203594
Contact name
Abbas Hasan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 13 days
Research summary
An estimated 600,000 people in the UK are estimated to suffer from Epilepsy. Many feel isolated and do not know others with epilepsy. Existing methods to connect people are often too costly, inaccessible or time consuming. We are researching a more effective alternative using a mobile phone messaging application (in this study we will use Kik, an anonymous text based chat messaging application currently in use by over 275 million people around the world).
The primary purpose of this study is to assess a person with epilepsy’s level of usage of a mobile messaging application for peer support. The secondary purpose is to understand what characteristics of their group drive different levels of usage.
Up to 300 adults (18+) with epilepsy, a smartphone, fluent in written and spoken English and who do not have any learning disabilities will be recruited to complete an initial questionnaire. They will then be instructed to download the Kik messaging application and will be provided with an anonymous user name. Participants will be placed in groups based on a matching algorithm based on their life-circumstances. Randomly created control groups will also be used. Participants can participate as much or little as they want for a minimum of six weeks. At the end of the study, participants will be given a final questionnaire and removed from the messaging application ending their participation.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0191
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion