Work and Health Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Working for health at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Attitudes, barriers and facilitators to employment in lymphoma and renal transplant patients.
IRAS ID
165054
Contact name
Alison Rodger
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, days
Research summary
There is a strong evidence base for the health benefits of encouraging people to stay in or return to work especially after illness (Black, 2008). Research shows that work can be therapeutic, can promote recovery and rehabilitation, and lead to better health outcomes. Historically, health services have not played a strong role in supporting or encouraging people to remain in employment or return to work after illness. Previous research with HIV patients at the Royal Free Hospital has showed that there is the potential for health services to offer psychological support around attitudes that inhibit a return to work (Rodger, et al., 2010).
Through this research we plan to investigate the attitudes and employment needs of patients following a period of illness and treatment at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) and to consider how the hospital can provide support to patients to either stay in work or return to work. We intend to conduct our research with two groups of patients who are treated at RFL. These are patients who are in good health or reasonable health following either a renal transplant or treatment for lymphoma.
Our study will have three elements. In study 1 we will analyse anonymised patient data collected routinely by RFL in order to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of patients who attend RFL for treatment or follow up following a renal transplant or following treatment for lymphoma. In study 2 we will use self-completed patient questionnaires to investigate the employment status, attitudes, barriers and facilitators to work of both groups of patients. In study 3 we will conduct semi-structured interviews with clinical staff who care for renal transplant and lymphoma patients in order to assess the need for and acceptability of including advice and information about employment in the care pathway.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1240
Date of REC Opinion
21 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion