Patient Transport Services for people with memory problems
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring experiences of people living with dementia using NHS patient transport services: an ethnographic study.
IRAS ID
296618
Contact name
Lesley Butterworth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
School of Clinical and Applied Sciences
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
YAS RD 149, Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background:
Dementia is a significant cause of dependency and disability and has wide-ranging impacts for individuals and communities. People living with dementia (PLWD) are at a higher risk of having co-morbidities. This means that PLWD have a regular need to access hospital services.
Patient Transport Services (PTS) is the name given to the planned transport of people who need support to access healthcare in the UK. These services are a vital component of health care provision and millions of PTS journeys are undertaken every year. The complex and multi-faceted nature of the effects of dementia can make access to PTS difficult for this patient group.
Due to the often-complex needs of people living with dementia, much of this transport will by patient transport services. Extensive literature searches have shown there is almost no research considering the experience of PTS for people living with dementia.
Aim:
To understand the experience, main problems, best practices and improvement priorities for patient transport services for people living with dementia.Methods:
Data will be collected through observations, informal conversations, and interviews with people living with dementia who use PTS, family members/carers, and staff members who work within PTS. Interviews and observations will focus on the patient experience, what works well, what is challenging, and what improvements could be made.In total, the study aims to recruit up to 20 people with dementia and up to 15 relatives/carers of those with dementia. The study will also aim to recruit up to 25 NHS staff for an interview.
Outputs:
The study is being supported by one of the UK’s largest PTS providers, Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS). The researcher is a senior clinician and strategic dementia lead at YAS which allows use of the research findings to make improvements for people living with dementia using patient transport services. Outputs will include publications, conferences and lay accessible materials.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0122
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion