What are the lived experiences of patients attending the OPED?

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    What are the lived experiences of patients attending the Older Peoples Emergency Department?

  • IRAS ID

    299098

  • Contact name

    Rachel Burridge

  • Contact email

    rachel.burridge@qehkl.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of East Anglia

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 10 months, 19 days

  • Research summary

    This qualitative study aims to look at the lived experiences of patients attending the Older Peoples Emergency Department (OPED). The OPED is a new service within the East of England and the experiences of those utilising its service are yet to be explored. It is important for the voices of the patients utilising this new service to be heard, and these experiences used to help design future emergency services for the older population.

    The OPED is a subsection within the Emergency Department (ED), which cares for patients aged 80, or over. Patients are received directly from ambulances or from the initial triage area within the ED, and are subsequently reviewed by a Doctor or Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) who specialise in caring for older people. The service is Consultant led, which ensures a prompt review by a senior clinician, allowing for early specialist intervention and treatment.

    Patients who are cared for within OPED and discharged the same day will be eligible to take part in the study. This is to ensure the focus of the study remains on the patient experience within OPED in its entirety. ACPs and a Consultant Geriatrician who work within the OPED team will recruit into the study. The study aims to recruit 10-15 participants over approximately a 6-month period. Participants will be invited to take part in an interview in the venue of their choice within 1 month after they have been discharged. The interviews will be semi-structured to facilitate focused areas to be exploring whilst also allowing the participants to share their experiences, which will later be analysed.

  • REC name

    London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/PR/0024

  • Date of REC Opinion

    5 Feb 2024

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion