Self-HARm provision in Emergency Services (SHARES Study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Children’s and young people's experience of short-term management and prevention provision following presentation for self-harm: Systematic review and qualitative study
IRAS ID
232006
Contact name
Rhiannon Evans
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff Univserity
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
CRD42017079371, PROSPERO Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Self-harm in children and young people is a major public health concern. Data report that 18,788 individuals aged under18 years in England and Wales were admitted to hospital or treated at an emergency department in 2015-2016, which is a 14% increase from 2013-2014. Clinical guidance recommends that services should be provided to individuals aged eight years and older who present to a hospital for self-harm. In practice, a number of recommended provisions are not delivered. Furthermore, research indicates that the health professionals who deliver these services often have negative attitudes towards individuals who self-harm, which may increase future self-harm and discourage help seeking. To date there has been limited research on the experiences of children and young people who receive hospital-based provision for self-harm. Clinical guidance recommends that qualitative research exploring these experiences should be undertaken.
We will conduct a two-phased project: 1) review and 2) qualitative study. The review will examine existing research reporting on individuals’ and carers’ experiences of presenting to a hospital for self-harm and receiving services. The qualitative study will recruit children and young people who have presented to hospital for self-harm. Interviews will be undertaken with 15 children and young people. They will explore experiences of services, and their impact on future intention to engage in self-harm and seek help. Interviews will also be conducted with 15 parents and guardians of children and young people who present with self-harm, and with 13 health care and other professionals who provide support. Study results will help to understand the experiences and needs of children and young people, in addition to their parents and guardians, which may support the improvement of services.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
18/WA/0066
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion