The GOALS Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study of the Goals of care of Older Adults Living with frailty who have experienced major trauma (Severe physical injury)
IRAS ID
342777
Contact name
Eleanor Lutman-White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Coventry University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
The population of older adults in the UK is increasing and so is the number of older severely injured patients attending emergency departments. Additionally, a growing number of people in the UK are living with frailty. Frailty describes how bodies gradually lose their in-built reserves, predominantly due to the ageing process, and are less resilient. People living with frailty do not ‘bounce back’ as quickly after a physical or mental illness, an accident or other stressful event. This group also attends the emergency department more frequently. This means that emergency departments more often need to provide medical care for over 65s who are living with frailty and who are seriously injured (have experienced major trauma). The priorities for medical care in these older, frail people may well be different to those of a younger person who is fully independent and has a much longer expected lifespan. A prioritisation exercise to determine the top research priorities to guide future research identified that finding out older people’s preferred goals of trauma care was one of the top three research priorities. We understand goals of care to be “the overarching aims of medical care for a patient that are informed by patients’ underlying values and priorities”. There is limited research on goals of care in relation to emergency care for older adults living with frailty, but no evidence specifically on major trauma (severe physical injury) in this population. This qualitative study aims to address this gap through interviews with older adults living with frailty who have sustained major trauma and been admitted to hospital to understand their goals of care. This research will help to ensure that trauma services are designed to meet the needs of this patient group.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0229
Date of REC Opinion
1 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion