OPEL H@H - phase 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimum ‘Hospice at Home’ Services for End of Life Care - Phase 2
IRAS ID
205986
Contact name
Claire Butler
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research question
What are the features of Hospice at Home services that work, for whom, and under what circumstances?Background
Offering people a choice about where they receive their care at the end of life is central to UK policy and the number of people wishing to die at home is increasing. “Hospice at Home” services (HAH) aim to offer hospice care in the individual’s home. The aim of hospice care is to improve the quality of life of people who have an incurable illness up to the point of death. Currently a range of different HAH services exist in the UK and it is unclear which features of these services enable better care and outcomes at the end of life for patients and families.The study will undertake an in depth investigation of 4-6 case study sites which represent the range of service ‘model’ types in England. Staff will make clinical assessments of patients as they care for them and carers will be asked to complete health service use and post-bereavement questionnaires and an optional interview. A method called ‘realist evaluation’ will be used to understand how the services delivered within the different models impact on patients and carers.
We will also compare the costs of delivering services in the different models and talk to providers of services about local issues that help or hinder the delivery of a good service.
At two national workshops we will seek feedback on the findings of the study from audiences including HAH providers, local health service planners and service user representatives. By combining all this information we will assess which models are likely to lead to the best outcomes and represent best value for money.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0880
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion