Refining 'VOLITION': A qualitative focus group study Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative focus group study to refine a new intervention 'VOLITION': To facilitate the involvement of older patients with multimorbidity in decision-making about their healthcare during GP consultations.
IRAS ID
253985
Contact name
Joanne Butterworth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Refining a new intervention (VOLITION): To support older patients with multiple health problems in joint decision-making about their healthcare with a GP.
Aim
To use qualitative methods to refine ‘VOLITION’ ahead of testing the intervention in a randomised controlled feasibility trial.
Background
In the UK, the number of people aged over 65 years is increasing. Over a third of spending in general practice goes towards care for older patients. They are likely to have more than one long-term health problem (multimorbidity) and these patients tend to have a poorer quality of life.
Sharing in decision-making with a doctor can have positive health outcomes including taking the doctor's advice about treatments, feeling happier about the care received, and having trust in the doctor. Despite older patients with multimorbidity preferring to share in decision-making, they are currently less often involved when compared with younger patients.
Design and methods
Focus groups will compare common views on the proposed intervention, ‘VOLITION’, which consists of:
• a half-day training workshop for GPs in shared decision-making
• a written involvement-facilitating tool for patients (delivered by post and available in the waiting room).We aim to recruit 20 patients and 15 GPs from five practices across Devon. Patients, aged 65 years and over with more than one long-term health problem, will approached via a mail out from practices. On return of questionnaires, those with varying degrees of morbidity will be invited to participate. All GPs from the practice will be invited.
There will be four focus groups, each lasting 2.5 hours; two with approximately ten patients and two with seven or eight GPs. Topic guides will aid exploration of all aspects regarding the development and refinement of the intervention.
Focus groups will be audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymised and analysed using a constant comparative approach with the aid of computer software.
(Funded by an NIHR doctoral fellowship award.)
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0274
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion