Social influences on frailty and personal responses to change - v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The (M)echanisms of destabilisation in older people living with frailt(Y): understanding social influences on frailty trajectory, (SELF)-management and personal responses to change (MYSELF)
IRAS ID
312260
Contact name
Kate Hamilton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
not applicable, not applicable
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
‘Frailty’ means different things to different people but is used by healthcare professionals to refer to a specific group - people aged 65+ who may have no major health concerns, yet have disproportionately negative outcomes from minor events, never quite getting back to ‘normal’. Frailty becomes increasingly common with age and is associated with unplanned and prolonged hospital admissions.
It appears healthcare professionals view the causes of frailty differently to social care professionals or people living with frailty. This study will explore how people with frailty perceive changes in their health and independence over time, and how their personal responses influence ‘getting back to normal’. This new learning will provide insights into what influences a person’s ability to manage their own needs and when support may be needed.
Participants will be identified via community health and social care referral systems - people aged 75 or over who have already been referred or discussed potential referral at least once within the last 6 months in relation to the five frailty syndromes (falls, delirium, mobility change, incontinence, medication side-effects). Participant information will be provided by post, email, or phone, using questions about social support and restrictions in daily activity as inclusion criteria. Formal consent and recruitment documentation will be completed in person.
Over 12 months each person will be offered 3 face to face interviews, and the PRISMA-7 frailty self-assessment completed each time. Between interviews they will be asked to keep a diary of key life events to prompt recall. Diaries will be replaced at each interview and retained as research material. Interviews will be recorded, transcribed, anonymised and analysed. The advisory group, including PPI members, will be consulted regarding interview questions and recruitment decisions. Learning will be shared with practitioners, participants and wider audiences.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EE/0265
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion