Understanding conversations in emergency care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding conversations between emergency care staff, patients and their relatives: what are the practices and behaviours of senior clinicians when delivering news to patients and relatives?
IRAS ID
330895
Contact name
Graham Johnson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trist
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background:
The way clinicians communicate is often a crucial component of both patients’ and relatives’ healthcare experience. Making sure staff get it right first time is therefore incredibly important. Whilst current training resources for emergency staff are good, they have not been developed specifically for emergency works and may not apply to the needs of those in emergency departments (ED).This study will use a method called "Conversation Analysis" to analyse recordings of real conversations between patients or relatives and senior experienced clinicians where news about a patient’s condition is delivered.
Aim:
To analyse up to 50 conversations between emergency staff and patients and relatives, examining spoken and non-spoken communication of the participants, to identify the challenges they face and communication practices they use. We will then develop training resources based on the findings.Methods:
Cameras will be placed in 5 rooms within the ED of Royal Derby Hospital recording all the time. Access to the recordings will be controlled by the Lead Research Nurse and ED Clinical Lead.Consent from patients and relatives will be sought after the recording, either approximately 4 weeks after the ED attendance (if a patient has died) or on the ward if still an inpatient. This is called "deferred consent" and its use is becoming increasingly common in emergency research.
Patient and Public Involvement
Patients and the Public have contributed to the study design and felt this was the best way of collecting the data.They are represented on a study oversight group (a Governance Group), who will meet regularly to ensure that the correct processes are followed throughout.
Dissemination:
The research findings will be published in academic journals and presented at
scientific conferences. The training resources will be made available online and in workshops.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0525
Date of REC Opinion
8 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion