Decision Making, Emergency General Surgery, Quality of Life (QOL)
Conditions
Keywords
Quality of Life, Decision-making, NoLap, EmLap, Emergency General Surgery
Brief summary
Emergency General Surgery (EGS) is an umbrella term which describes all patients presenting to hospital with an acute abdominal problem. Patients can have various conditions requiring emergency operations. EGS is one of the most common reasons for an emergency admission in the UK. EGS is often referred to as high-risk surgery. For those patients who do survive after their surgery, many struggle with frailty and new medical problems resulting in a reduction in their quality of life (QoL). The goal of this observational study is to explore QoL and decision-making in EGS through questionnaires and interviews with patients, families/supporters and consultants working in EGS. Workstream 1 will involve patients and families/supporters. Workstream 2 will involve consultants. The investigators are interested in patients who have either undergone EGS (EmLaps) or have needed but not undergone EGS (NoLaps). The investigators are interested in exploring participants (patients, families/supporters and consultants) experiences of this EmLap vs NoLap decision. The main questions the investigators want to answer are: * What is the long-term QOL of EmLap/NoLap patients and their family/supporters? * How do patients and their family/supporters describe their experience of decision-making in EGS? * What are consultant's experiences and views on decision-making in EGS? Workstream 1 participants (patients and family members/supporters) will complete questionnaires and take part in interviews at different time-points following their decision (1 month/3 months/ 9-12 months). Questionnaires and interviews will explore QoL and decision-making in EGS. Consultant participants will be asked to complete an online survey and/or take part in an individual interview. Both will explore decision-making in EGS.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Bowel Research UK
NHS Lothian
NHS Grampian
NHS Tayside
University of Glasgow
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Group 1 and 2: EmLap and NoLap patients (up to 30 participants) Patient inclusion/
Exclusion criteria
should mirror NELA inclusion/
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Life (QoL) | 1 year | The primary aim of workstream 1 is to report on the long-term QoL of EmLap and NoLap patients and their families/supporters. For this, participants will complete validated QoL questionnaires within 4 weeks of EmLap/NoLap decision then again at 3 and 9-12 months post-decision. Questionnaires will include European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level Version (EQ-5D-5L) which will specifically quantify QoL. Maximum score= 1. Minimum scores in the UK have been reported at -0.28. A higher score reflects a higher QoL. |
| Decision-making | 1 year | The primary aim of workstream 2 is to describe and explore consultant experiences of decision-making in EGS through online survey and semi-structured interviews. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Decision-making | 1 year | Semi-structured interviews with patients and families/supporters will allow us to explore their experience and views of decision-making in EGS. |
| Consultant specialities involved in decision-making | 1 year | Workstream 1 will clarify which specialties are involved in the EGS decision-making process to allow recruitment for workstream 2. We will specifically clarify the number of EGS decisions which involve * consultant surgeon * consultant anaesthetist * consultant intestivist |
| Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMs) for Emergency General Surgery | 1 year | The results from workstream 1 will inform the development of PROMs for EGS. These PROMS will include a number of specific EGS related questions developed from our study results. |
| Patient Reported Experience Measurements (PREMs) for Emergency General Surgery | 1 year | The results from workstream 1 will inform the development of PREMs for EGS. These PREMS will include a number of specific EGS related questions developed from our study results. |
Contacts
Primary ContactRachel John-Charles, MBChB, Bsc (Hons), MRSC
Backup ContactSusan Moug, MBChB, Bsc (Hons), FRSC, PhD
Outcome results
None listed