Research project

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Title: Exploring the risk of falls from the perspective of older people, carers and health and social care professionals.

Project timescale: From 01 March, 2002 to 01 January, 2004
(Added to website on: 24 June, 2002 - Date last updated: 20 April, 2007)

Source of funding:
NHS Executive London Regional Office ( Primary Care Studies Programme).

Aims: To explore how the risk of falling is understood by older people, carers and professionals and to inform the development of local policy for the implementation of standard six of the National Service Framework for older people, incorporating a model of user involvement.

Research designs used:
Action Research
Study of views/experiences

Methods used to collect data:
Focus groups
Interviews

Research project description: This is a collaborative project between St George's Hospital Medical School, Sutton & Merton Primary Care Trust, the London Borough of Merton and Merton & Sutton Community Health Council. We will interview older people to find out what they know and understand about their chances of falling, what they would like to know, and what their preferences are for advice on preventing falls. We will conduct interviews with groups of carers to find out if the information and advice given to older people about falls is appropriate. We will also interview professionals to find out what the important issues are for them about falls prevention. Recommendations will be made about how guidelines and an implementation strategy on falls prevention could reflect the views of older people. We will set up a 'user panel' of older people and their representatives to help manage this research project and disseminate the findings.

Stages at which the public were involved:
Disseminating research
Planning the research
Managing the research
Designing the research instruments
(eg questionnaires, patient information sheets)
Analysing the research

Description of public involvement in research stages: The Chair of the local Community Health Council is a co-applicant and has been involved with the project from the planning stage. We will be setting up a consumer panel, consisting of people from community groups, to make sure the way the research is planned, carried out and interpreted is relevant to the concerns of people using health and social services.

Training and support provided for either members of the public or researchers involved in the project:

Examples of ways the public have made a difference to the research project: The involvement of the Chair of the local Community Health Council as a co-applicant has ensured that this project has had a user perspective from the outset. Her input will be invaluable in establishing links with community groups and setting up the consumer panel. Members of the consumer panel will have their own networks in the local community and these will be used to inform the dissemination of this research.

Evaluating the impact of public involvement in the research:

Details of publications or reports resulting from the research: Involving older people in research:methodological issues Fiona Ross, Sheila Donovan, Sally Brearley, Christina Victor, Mark Cottee, Peter Crowther and Eileen Clark Health and Social Care in the Community 13(3), 268-275 (updated 22/08/2005)

Was/is your project user controlled: Not Known

For further information on the project, please contact:
Ms Sheila Donovan
Research Nurse
Nursing Research Unit Kings College London
James Clerk Maxwell Building
57 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8WA
sheila.donovan@kcl.ac.uk


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