The Home Intravenous Therapy and Patient Safety (HOPES) Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HOme intravenous therapy and PatiEnt Safety (HOPES) study – Developing a framework of actions to support patient safety in home intravenous therapy
IRAS ID
364116
Contact name
Cam Anh Tran Phan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Bradford
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Intravenous therapies are treatments delivered through a drip or injection directly into the bloodstream. Home intravenous therapy is a growing area within home healthcare and is likely to play an important role in the ongoing NHS reforms. While evidence indicates that the safety of home intravenous therapy is comparable to care delivered in hospitals or clinics, most patient safety research continues to focus on institutional settings. Providing clinical care in the home introduces both opportunities and challenges. The home environment presents specific hazards related to hygiene, lighting, temperature, crowding, and distractions, as well as the risks associated with reduced clinical monitoring and supervision compared with institutional care.
Home intravenous therapy is a “complex sociotechnical system”. This means it involves people (patients, families, and healthcare professionals), technology (infusion pumps, catheters), organisations (policies, procedures), and the home environment—all working together to make care safe and effective.
In Phase 1, this study will explore the home intravenous therapy work system. We will review documents to understand how work is imagined to happen, interview patients, families, and healthcare staff to understand how work is described, and observe home intravenous therapy process to see how work is done. Cognitive work analysis will be applied to define the limitations placed on workers by the work system, which would inform design of the system to support adaptability. Interview data will also analysed to identify barriers and facilitators to safety in home intravenous therapy as perceived by patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
In Phase 2, we will conduct co-design workshops with stakeholders. Stakeholders include anyone with a personal or professional interest in the design, delivery, and evaluation of home intravenous therapy, such as patient, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and service managers. Insights from Phase 1 will inform the development of a framework of actions to support patient safety in home intravenous therapy.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0300
Date of REC Opinion
25 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion