Understanding patients’ experiences of Addison’s disease. v1.3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding patients’ experiences of Addison’s disease. A qualitative study.
IRAS ID
226105
Contact name
Stephanie Estcourt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
RDE
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Addison’s disease is caused by damage to the adrenal gland. It is a rare condition and people with it require lifelong treatment with steroids. Some studies into how Addison’s affects lives have been done using questionnaires. These have revealed that this group of people can have a poorer quality of life. By doing research that uses interviews the researcher is able to explore issues that really matter and gain a greater insight and understanding of what it is like to live with Addison’s disease. These interviews are taped and transcribed in order to provide data that can be scrutinised for commonality of experience. By exploring perceptions and attitudes about the physical and psychological effects of Addison’s and how people cope with it, the researchers will gain information to improve clinical practice in the support of this group of people.
How can we better understand patients’ experiences of Addison’s disease and the affect it has on their lives in terms of challenges and how they cope with them. With greater understanding we will be able to inform clinical practice, adding to the evidence-base that enables healthcare professionals (HCPs) to meet the needs of this particular group of patients.
Study objectives include
• Gaining an understanding of patients’ perceptions and attitudes towards the physical and psychological effects of Addison’s disease.
• Identifying how patients’ cope with Addison’s disease.
• Provide information that lead to improving clinical practice in the support of these patients.REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1370
Date of REC Opinion
7 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion