Meeting the LEgal Needs of Adults with life limiting illness (LENA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Meeting the LEgal Needs of Adults with life limiting illness: a scoping exercise and novel educational intervention (The LENA Study)
IRAS ID
236775
Contact name
Colette Hawkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St Oswald's Hospice
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
The legal needs of people with life limiting illnesses (LLI) such as cancer and dementia are complex, poorly understood, and poorly integrated into care packages, potentially leading to negative end-of-life experiences and costly implications for health and social care. This project will be the first known study to generate an insight into the breadth and impact of legal needs faced by people with LLI and their carers, and to address those needs via an educational intervention. The study will scope the extent of current legal needs and legal service provision as well as mapping currently available services and resources in the North East and Nationally. A systematic review and scoping exercise will inform interviews with patients and carers about their legal needs. Interview findings will be used to develop a questionnaire for patients, carers and professionals from health, legal and social care about the best ways to meet legal needs which affect health. Findings will be used to develop, implement and evaluate an educational package for health, social care and legal professionals involved in the care of people with LLI. The package will draw on proven immersive learning techniques, supported by expert educationalists in the field. The study will be underpinned by, and already has, commitment and involvement from a key stakeholder group incorporating solicitors, clinicians, voluntary sector, patients and carers.
This study will form the basis for a larger study to further develop and evaluate the educational package, measured against key health outcomes to capture patient benefit both locally and nationally.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EM/0021
Date of REC Opinion
23 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion