Using the ReSPECT process in community services in Leeds

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A service evaluation of the ReSPECT process and its implementation in the community setting in Leeds

  • IRAS ID

    353243

  • Contact name

    Jacqueline C Birtwistle

  • Contact email

    j.birtwistle@leeds.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Leeds

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    2025-NCT01, Sponsor number

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) process, widely used in the UK, provides personalized emergency care recommendations for situations where individuals cannot make decisions.(1, 2) These recommendations are developed through discussions between patients, families, and healthcare professionals, balancing personal values with feasible care options. Digital documentation of ReSPECT supports information sharing across healthcare settings, but challenges remain in ensuring accessibility and usability.

    Digital approaches to the documentation of ReSPECT are relatively new, with Leeds being one of the first areas to implement them. Previous local audits have focused on secondary care and the completeness of data within electronic records, rather than experiences with using the system. This evaluation will comprehensively review the ReSPECT process in primary and community care in Leeds, incorporating insights from patients, caregivers, and professionals.

    The objectives of this study are to:
    - To understand the patient and carer experience, priorities, and preferences regarding ReSPECT processes - (WP1: Telephone interviews with patients and carers)
    - To understand the experience and needs of health professionals working in primary care and the community care that enable them to conduct ReSPECT processes with their patients - (WP2: Survey of health professionals working in community services and primary care)
    - To identify which aspects of the ReSPECT process are working well and what could be improved - (WP3: Interviews with health professionals working in community services and primary care)

    1.Resuscitation Council UK. ReSPECT. Available from https://www.resus.org.uk/respect; 2023. Contract No.: 01.11.23.
    2.Pitcher D, Fritz Z, Wang M, Spiller JA. Emergency care and resuscitation plans. BMJ. 2017;356:j876.

  • REC name

    London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/PR/0438

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 Jun 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion